EDITORIAL
Endangered species finally getting help

Hawai'i has many things to be proud of, but our record for protecting native species is not one of them. We now have more endangered species here than any other part of the world.

So it is heartening to see that the state Department of Land and Natural Resources is working on an ambitious project — with an Oct. 1 deadline — to outline what is known about Hawai'i's native wildlife, and identify what is needed and how to best protect these various species.

Congress mandated the project and told states they would get no funding from the State Wildlife Grant Program if they failed to meet the deadline.

As Advertiser science writer Jan TenBruggencate wrote yesterday, wildlife managers have been concerned that too much of the conservation work in the state is done on a crisis-management basis. And that approach too often means that limited funds are not spent wisely or efficiently.

This project of cataloging native wildlife takes a proactive approach, one that should ideally help us prioritize needs and spend accordingly.

The DLNR is wisely seeking public input, opening the door for the many fine private agencies that have made preservation of our environment their goal to share their expertise.

The project is off to a promising start, though it is unfortunate that it took a congressional mandate to make it happen.

The continuing loss of native species has long been a serious problem here. And while it's understandable that this state agency may not have funds at the ready to accomplish all that must be done, as steward of our 'aina, the DLNR should indeed have a list of plants, birds and insects in need of help.

Hawai'i must learn now to take the long view on protection of endangered species to preserve the delicate balance of our ecosystem. Once these species are gone, they're lost forever. We owe it to future generations to do all that we can to prevent that from happening.