Public hearings will discuss wildlife plan

Advertiser Staff

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is holding a series of statewide public meetings to discuss Hawai'i's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.

"This is the first time for Hawai'i to have a statewide strategy for native wildlife conservation that includes species from the mountains to the sea, from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the main Hawaiian Islands. This is an historic endeavor," said DLNR chairman Peter Young in a statement.

In addition to marine mammals and sea turtles, other marine and aquatic species groupings include freshwater invertebrates and fishes, fauna associated with anchialine ponds, and marine invertebrates and fishes. For land species, groupings include forest birds, seabirds, migratory birds, wetland birds, invertebrates and a terrestrial mammal, the Hawaiian hoary bat.

Mandated by Congress for all states and U.S. territories, the wildlife conservation plans must be completed by Oct. 1 to continue receiving federal money for wildlife conservation activities under the State Wildlife Grant Program.

The meetings will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. The first one is tomorrow at the 'Ele'ele School cafeteria, followed by meetings Tuesday at the Mitchell Pauole Center in Kaunakakai, June 22 at the Maui Waena Intermediate School cafeteria in Kahului, June 23 at the Lana'i High & Elementary School cafeteria, June 28 at the Kealakehe Intermediate School cafeteria in Kona, June 29 at the Hilo High School cafeteria, and July 7 at Washington Middle School.

Those unable to attend the public meetings can write to the DLNR at wildlife.strategy@hawaii.gov to receive information or to comment. Information also is available at www.dofaw.net/cwcs.