THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

59

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS, DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, the u.s. fish and wildlife service, and the counties TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF AND RECOMMEND TREATMENT FOR GORSE SHRUBS ON THEIR RESPECTIVE LANDS.

 

WHEREAS, gorse is a wild evergreen thorny shrub with yellow flowers which is virtually impenetrable by humans, dogs, horses, or livestock; and

WHEREAS, gorse became established on the slopes of Mauna Kea in the area of Humu'ula on Hawaiian home land while under lease to the Parker Ranch; and

WHEREAS, gorse was allowed to spread from a few acres to several thousand acres today of what once was productive lands now rendered worthless because they are totally impassable; and

WHEREAS, beginning in the sixties and through the past forty years, half-hearted attempts have been made to control gorse but no inroads were made to its eradication; and

WHEREAS, treatment attempts such as poisoning and burning have been tried and have failed; and

WHEREAS, gorse spreads its seeds by the explosion of the seed pod which then spews seeds into the wind, which have caused gorse to become established just above Pi'ihonua; and

WHEREAS, gorse is an invasive species and far more detrimental than the Miconia; and

WHEREAS, gorse flourishes between five thousand to seven thousand foot elevations, and seeds can remain dormant for an estimated thirty years; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Land and Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the counties have jurisdiction over lands where gorse is likely to be growing; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture has the primary responsibility to eradicate invasive species under chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

WHEREAS, the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii at Manoa has scientific expertise in the growth and eradication of gorse; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that the Department of Agriculture, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are requested to identify the nature and extent of growth of gorse within their respective lands; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to formulate and implement a comprehensive action plan to eradicate the gorse, with the consultation of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Land and Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the counties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii at Manoa is requested to assist the Department of Agriculture in this effort; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to report its findings and recommendation and progress of its efforts not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Resident Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Dean

of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and the Mayor and the Chairperson of the Council of each county.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Invasive Species; Gorse