80
Gov. Neil Abercrombie aims to double the area of watershed forests in Hawaii that are protected from invasive species and other threats — a plan that he estimated would cost $11 million a year.
The governor’s office announced the initiative today. He didn’t indicate where the state would raise the money to implement the plan.
The governor says the plan requires managing invasive species, increasing Hawaii’s ability to withstand the effects of climate change, and finding additional sources of funding to restore the capabilities of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The plan aims to “dramatically increase protection of thousands of acres of priority watershed forests” in Hawaii. The targeted forests are on Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and the Big island.
