The state's environmental and conservation community is strongly supporting a measure that would increase the state's ability to enforce its conservation laws.

Groups including The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Conservation Council for Hawai'i, the Hawaiian-environmental alliance KAHEA, Environmental Defense, Hawai'i Audubon Society, Pacific Fisheries Coalition and Malama Hawai'i are leading the charge for a $5 million increase in the state Department of Land and Natural Resources' budget for its conservation police.

Over two years, the money would increase the Division of Conservancy and Resources Enforcement's staff by 40 percent, with 40 new conservation officers and 10 other new staff positions. The proposed budget increase for enforcement is part of a Lingle administration proposal to substantially increase funding for the division's parent agency, the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The conservation enforcement division handles the enforcement of regulations regarding fishing, protection of coral reefs, parks, hunting, forestry, illegal logging and more. A 2006 state auditor's report said the agency's responsibilities in recent years have been expanded into new areas such as providing security at cruise ship ports, and addressing teen drug and alcohol use at state parks and harbors — tasks that have taken the undersized staff away from its core mission of protecting natural and cultural resources.

The report indicated the division at that time had 103 total personnel, with 79 conducting conservation patrols statewide.

The Legislature increased funding last year, and land department director Peter Young said the agency now has 110 officers. The new proposal would increase that number to 150 at the end of two years.

Leaders in the state's conservation community applauded the proposed increase.

"We've got all these laws, and without enforcement, we're hoping for the honor system to work, and it doesn't seem to be working," said Hawaiian fishing advocate Isaac Harp, a leader in KAHEA. "I think it's sorely needed."

Suzanne Case, executive director of Nature Conservancy Hawai'i, commended Lingle's commitment to provide additional conservation funding.

"Our oceans and forests are just as much victims of crime as our streets and neighborhoods, but without enforcement, our resource protection laws are meaningless," Case said.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.