THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

160

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

Requesting the Department of Land and natural resources TO undertake a study to determine whether commercial eco-tourism should be encouraged in the natural area reserves system.

 

WHEREAS, the Legislature in Act 139, Session Laws of Hawaii 1970, found that the State "possessed unique natural resources, such as geological and volcanological features and distinctive marine and terrestrial plants and animals ..."; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature determined that these unique assets must be preserved and established the Natural Area Reserves System "to preserve in perpetuity specific land and water areas which support communities, as relatively unmodified as possible, of the natural flora and fauna, as well as geological sites, of Hawaii."; and

WHEREAS, today, the Natural Area Reserves System consists of nineteen reserves on five islands, containing in excess of one hundred nine thousand acres; and

WHEREAS, these areas range from marine and coastal environments to tropical rain forests to deserts, all containing rare plants and animals, many on the verge of extinction; and

WHEREAS, there has been a significant rise in the interest of eco-tourism, which is the exploration of natural areas in a way that does not negatively impact the natural areas visited, on the part of visitors to the State; and

WHEREAS, the visitor revenues generated by eco-tourism may be used to benefit the Natural Area Reserves System; and

WHEREAS, professionally trained and experienced guides may also assist in the observing and reporting of incidents of department rule violations by other persons or other problems detrimental to the Natural Area Reserves System; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to undertake a study to determine the practicality of allowing limited commercial eco-tourism activities within the Natural Area Reserves System; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to consider the following factors in this study:

(1) That the limited commercial eco-tourism activities in the Natural Area Reserves System be strictly regulated, following rules established by the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

(2) That commercial eco-tourism operators in the Natural Area Reserves System be certified by the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

(3) That the rules include limits on the size of groups or total number of person permitted on any eco-tour activity; and

(4) That the Department of Land and Natural Resources charge a reasonable fee to the commercial eco-tourism operator to be deposited in the Natural Area Reserve Fund; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit a report to the Legislature of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, not less than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Natural Area Reserves System; Eco-tourism.