State unveils wildlife plan

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking public input on its updated Hawaii State Wildlife Action Plan, which lays out the strategy and plans of DLNR and its partners to address the conservation needs of Hawaii’s native wildlife over the next 10 years.

The State Wildlife Action Plan reviews the status of the state’s native terrestrial and aquatic species, over 10,000 of which are found nowhere else on Earth, and presents strategies for long-term conservation of these species and their habitats.

The plan is being updated to continue the coordinated and comprehensive planning and implementation of conservation strategies and actions to manage and restore native wildlife.

Completion of the plan also will enable DLNR’s ongoing participation in the national State Wildlife Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which provides more than $450,000 per year for projects to conserve native wildlife.

This plan identifies the projects, strategies and priorities for department funding under this grant program.

A copy of the 2015 draft state wildlife action plan is available for review on the DLNR website, and a copy can be downloaded at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/files/2015/07/SWAP-2015-Pub-draft.pdf.

The department also is scheduling statewide meetings to provide information about the plan, and gather input from interested parties.

Meetings on Hawaii Island are 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at the DLNR Division of Forestry Hawaii Branch office, 19 East Kawili St. in Hilo and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at Waimea Community Center, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road.

Written comments on the draft SWAP can be submitted to: Division of Forestry and Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl St., Rm. 325, Honolulu, HI 96813. Email comments can be sent to: John.P.Vetter@hawaii.gov.

The deadline for public comments to be submitted is Aug. 31.