Letter: Protect open spaces to sequester carbon
JAMM AQUINO / 2017
Dolan Eversole, right, of the University of Hawaii Sea Grant, walks with wife Malia and son Kainalu near a cleared section of stream bank in Manoa. Members of the Ala Wai Watershed Collaboration are using national conservation standards and native plants to improve stream banks to reduce erosion. It is important to take care of the upper watershed and maintain the stream so that the Ala Wai Canal and coral reefs are not harmed by excessive erosion.
Gov. David Ige has pledged that by 2045, the state will absorb more carbon that it produces. The world has its eyes on Hawaii to see how this environmental sanity can be accomplished.
Hawaii County’s 2% Land Fund, created by citizens, would protect natural resources, watersheds, open space, parklands and cultural sites from pavement, housing tracts, commercial and industrial growth. I strongly support the county setting aside 2% of property taxes each year to have a guaranteed source of funding to obtain matching funds to acquire property.
In 2012, a charter amendment was put on the ballot at the full 2%, not 1%. It was approved by 63% of the voters. Regenerating our forests and protecting our open space would positively address Ige’s goal of increasing carbon sequestration.
Gary Harrold
Hilo
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