Categorized | Agriculture

State reimburses farmers and ranchers for conservation easements to protect significant natural resources

MEDIA RELEASE

HONOLULU – Hawai‘i farmers and ranchers who have enrolled in a joint state and federal program to establish conservation easements that promote restoration of degraded agricultural lands and sustainable land management practices, are invited to submit requests for reimbursements to the Hawai‘i Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) in the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). The reimbursements are intended to support the continued efforts of nonprofits and landowners interested in conservation easements throughout the state.

Under the Hawai‘i Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), funding support is available to assist with conservation easements in eligible areas that support the restoration of degraded agricultural lands and protect these lands from development or conversion, and to promote sustainable land management practices across the state.

Eligible lands for the Hawai‘i CREP include agriculturally productive lands on the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i that are in need of some level of restoration.

DLNR’s principal objective for this request is to support the establishment of conservation easements on eligible CREP lands, and as such is offering assistance to nonprofits and landowners that have, or will close, a conservation easement during this State fiscal year.

The Hawai‘i Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program aims to encourage Hawai‘i farmers and ranchers to participate in an innovative conservation program that will help restore habitats of native Hawaiian species, improve water quality in stream systems, reduce the spread of invasive species and enhance coastal and coral reef health.

In April 2009, the CREP program began to voluntarily enroll farmers and ranchers who wanted to commit to conservation practices — such as converting the land to native trees, shrubs, grasses and other vegetation or wetland restoration measures. In return they will receive incentive rental payments and cost-share reimbursement for their expenses. This reimbursement process is now underway.

Hawai‘i CREP aims to enroll up to 15,000 acres of marginal pastureland and cropland that will be converted to natural areas over 20 years. This land-based restoration will improve water quality and wildlife habitat and protect vital watersheds and riparian areas on agricultural land on six of the main Hawaiian islands.

For information on the Hawai‘i CREP and this solicitation for reimbursements, go to www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/crep. Copies of this request are also available at 1151 Punchbowl Street Room 325, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 or by contacting Irene Sprecher at Melissa.I.Sprecher@hawaii.gov or calling (808) 587-4167.

Proposals in response to this solicitation are due by June 3, 2010 at 4 p.m. to the Division of Forestry and Wildlife at the address provided below. The division will evaluate all responses to this solicitation, and can provide assistance with required due diligence materials associated with conservation easements (due diligence materials may include necessary compliance documents such as appraisals of land value, environmental site assessments, and title reports, among others).

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

 

Quantcast