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Hawaiian goose.
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Pact would protect rare birds
The state and federal governments are willing to enter into agreements with landowners to ensure the safety of five endangered Hawaii birds.
Harboring fliers
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will be holding a series of public hearings on the safe harbor agreement. All hearings will begin at 7 p.m.
» Tomorrow at Lanai High School, 555 Fraser Ave., Lanai City.
» Thursday at the Kalanimoku Building, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 132, Honolulu.
» Dec. 12 at the Lihue Neighborhood Community Center, 3353 Eono St., Lihue.
» Dec. 13 at the Mitchell Pau'ole Community Center, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai.*
» Dec. 19 at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center, 395 Waena Place, Wailuku.
» Dec. 21 at the Hilo Division of Forestry and Wildlife Office, 19 East Kawili St., Hilo.
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Dubbed a safe harbor agreement, it will give assurances to cooperating landowners that future land use restrictions will not be imposed, just as long as they provide some management to benefit the listed species.
The five birds covered by the agreement, the first of its kind to reach statewide, are: Hawaiian goose, Hawaiian duck, Hawaiian moorhen, Hawaiian coot and Hawaiian stilt.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a series of hearings to give the public an opportunity to review and comment on a draft of the agreement.
To be eligible for the agreement, landowners must be enrolled in the National Resources Conservation Service's Farm Bill Conservation program, and be making improvements to wetlands, riparian or uplands habitats that will benefit the five birds. Management responsibilities will last for at least 10 years, according to the agreement.
The NRCS, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has several programs created under the Farm Bill to alleviate the environmental impacts of agriculture, and offers financial and technical help.
"This safe harbor agreement adds even more incentive to Hawaii's farmers and ranchers to protect and recover endangered species while retaining their property use rights," said Patrick Leonard, field supervisor for the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office.
The draft agreement is available at selected public libraries, the DLNR Forestry and Wildlife offices on each island, the USFWS office in Honolulu (792-9400), and online at http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/pubs/index.html.
Deadline for comments is Jan. 7 Comments should be submitted to the Conservation Initiatives Coordinator, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 325, Honolulu, HI 96813.
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Hawaiian duck.
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Hawaiian moorhen.
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Hawaiian coot.
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Hawaiian stilts.
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CORRECTION
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
» A public hearing on a proposed safe harbor agreement will be held at the Mitchell Pau'ole Community Center, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai, Molokai, at 7 p.m., Dec. 13. A Monday story on Page A5 incorrectly said the hearing would be tonight.
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