HLH LLC, a Hawaii-based sustainable forestry company, planted 300,000 endemic trees on Hawaii Island — nearly a quarter of its overall goal of 1.3 million total trees to be planted for permanent reforestation across the Hawaiian Islands.
HLH LLC, a Hawaii-based sustainable forestry company, planted 300,000 endemic trees on Hawaii Island — nearly a quarter of its overall goal of 1.3 million total trees to be planted for permanent reforestation across the Hawaiian Islands.
HLH set aside more than 1,000 acres of land for its reforestation project, establishing the world’s first Hawaiian Legacy Forest.
In the past five years, HLH has developed an entire native ecosystem on former pastureland across the slopes of Mauna Kea. In addition to koa, HLH is planting many other indigenous species of trees and understory, including ohia, mamane, naio, ko‘oko‘olau, kukaenene and iliahi (Hawaiian sandalwood).
“Returning this pastureland to the forest it once was has re-established a much-needed habitat for endemic Hawaii plant and animal species, some of which are endangered,” said Jeff Dunster, HLH CEO. “This significant milestone of 300,000 trees planted has been made possible by support from numerous individuals, nonprofits, businesses and government agencies committed to seeing this forest return to the landscape.”
Through state-of-the- art technologies and proprietary forest management practices, HLH is promoting long-term forest health, carbon sequestration, ecosystem diversity and unparalleled data collection for research and development, all while creating permanent green jobs for Hawaii families.
HLH is working closely with the nonprofit Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative to reach its goal of planting 1.3 million trees.
Key to these efforts is the new Legacy Carbon Program launched in June. It is the first program in the world to produce certified carbon credits for the reforestation of koa trees. Koa and sandalwood legacy trees can be sponsored online via LegacyTrees.org, or can be planted in-person through HawaiianLegacyTours.com, named Ecotour Operator of the Year in 2014 by the Hawaii Ecotourism Association.
In addition to re-establishing the forest, proceeds from each tree planted raise funds for more than 300 nonprofits in Hawaii and worldwide.
HLH uses a proprietary radio-frequency identification technology that verifies ongoing growth, maintenance, genealogy and carbon sequestration data, so each individual or organization can track the quantifiable impact of their purchase in what has become the most intricately mapped forest in the world.
For more information about sustainable forestry, visit www.HLH.co; for more about Legacy Carbon, visit www.LegacyCarbon.com; for more about Hawaiian Legacy Tours, visit www.HawaiianLegacyTours.com; and to sponsor a legacy tree, visit www.LegacyTrees.org.