MEDIA RELEASE

HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is focusing its efforts on ecosystem management to protect our islands’ fresh water resources.

DLNR has produced a half-hour television special illustrating the importance of watershed protection and restoration. “The Rain Follows the Forest,” features Jason Scott Lee setting out on a journey to learn about sustainable life in our island home. Through interesting conversations, he learns about Hawai‘i’s fragile fresh water supply and discovers connections to our upland forest environment, and shares ways in which we all can contribute to protecting our watersheds.

One of those conversations in the television special is with William J. Aila, Jr., Chairperson of DLNR who says, “I think about my grandchildren all the time and the challenges that they are going to face. The worst-case scenario is that our watersheds are depleted and the source of fresh water diminishes.”

“Fresh water is really important for us, it’s important to every ecosystem from the top of the mountain even into the ocean,” continued Aila.

Tune-in on Thursday January 19, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. on KGMB and join Jason Scott Lee as he learns about our watersheds and how they provide nearly all of our fresh water in Hawai‘i.

DLNR has launched a facebook page which has been following the production of the television special. Follow DLNR on facebook at www.facebook.com/HawaiiDLNR to see those images and keep up to date with DLNR news.

Airdates in January 2012

• KGMB Thursday 1/19/2012 6:30-7pm
• KGMB Sunday 1/22/2012 at 4:30-5pm
• KHNL Thursday 1/26/2012 at 6:30-7pm
• KHNL Saturday 1/28/2012 at 6 – 6:30pm

Airdates in February 2012

• Throughout February on “Outside Hawai‘i” on OC16

For additional information, you may find “The Rain Follows the Forest: A Plan to Replenish Hawai‘i’s Source of Water” which was released by Governor Abercrombie in November 2011 on our DLNR website at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr.