HILO, Hawai'i — The state hopes to regenerate a koa forest on about 1,000 acres of state-owned land in North Kona that has been degraded over the years by cattle grazing.

State forestry officials plan to remove feral cattle that still wander onto the Honua'ula Forest Reserve, and put up new fencing next year along the southern border of 1,608 acres known as Honua'ula Tract II to protect the young koa trees, according to a draft environmental assessment for the project.

Much of the land at Holualoa that would be involved in the project was taken out of grazing and added to the forest reserve in 2006.

The reforestation effort will include planting koa seedlings and bulldozing to remove a thick carpet of kikuyu grass near mature koa trees in the area in a process called "scarification." The idea is to encourage dormant koa seeds to sprout.

The planting and soil scarification would begin with 150 acres next year, and would continue until 2023, assuming the state Legislature puts up the money to continue the project each year.

The entire project is expected to cost $1.62 million, with initial funding coming from the state and the U.S. Forest Service.

The project also would involve building two new access roads into the area that should improve the opportunities for hiking and recreation, according to a draft environmental assessment.

The state Division of Forestry and Wildlife is planning a 10-stall parking area with picnic tables and a hunter check-in station at the end of the planned new road to the Hienaloli section of the reserve. Construction of that road is planned for 2010.

Over the long term, the project will also "help to reverse the decline and disappearance of native ecosystems" by increasing the habitat for native plants and birds, according to the report.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.