The state Land Board this week will consider approving a drone survey of forests affected by rapid ohia death and review proposed regulations that include restricting access to state forest reserves during emergencies.
The survey involves a partnership with the state Department of Agriculture, which will fund use of unmanned aerial vehicles and laser-guided imaging spectroscopy to track the spread of the plant disease in Hawaii Island forests.
The work involves two memorandums of agreement between the DOA and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The DOA agrees to pay up to $125,134 for the drone survey and $250,000 for the laser-guided imaging, according to DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
DLNR would receive the funds as a pass through to the Carnegie Institution for Science and the University of Hawaii at Hilo to conduct aerial surveys.
DOFAW Administrator David Smith didn’t return a request for comment by deadline Monday.
The state Board of Land and Natural Resources also is being asked to give DOFAW approval to start rule-making proceedings, which would include public hearings, on proposed amendments to “rules regulating activities within forest reserves.”
The proposed new rules include a new section on closing or restricting areas to the public.
Closures could occur in the event of emergency or when deemed necessary for protecting environmental or cultural resources; health, safety or welfare; protection of property; or for management activities.
Closure of forest areas was an issue during protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope in 2015 on Mauna Kea. Opponents camped across from the Mauna Kea visitor center on land that’s part of the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve.
Gov. David Ige signed emergency rules prohibiting those activities. Those were later ruled invalid, and charges against those arrested were tossed.
The Land Board meets at 9 a.m. Thursday in Honolulu.
The agenda can be viewed at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/meetings/blnr-meetings-2017.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
