76
State officials plan to install $40,000 in fencing in Kauai’s "Blue Hole" area in mountainous Wailua to protect a number of endangered species, under a draft forest reserve management plan.
"Those areas are quite rich as far as diversity," said Ken Wood, an official with the National Tropical Botanical Garden. "Keeping pigs out of the region is very important."
The proposal for the Lihue-Koloa area is in one of three Hawaii forest reserve management plans available for public review.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is also seeking comment on plans for Kauai’s Halelea Forest Reserve and east Maui’s Waihou Spring Forest Reserve.
Hawaii’s Forest Reserve System was established in 1903 and encompasses 637,000 acres of conservation land. It provides the public with a safe water supply, recreational opportunities and protection for endangered species.
Comments to the plans may be made through July 31.
The plans are posted on the department’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife website, www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw, in the "Announcements" section. For more information, call 587-4166.
