View Point

By Michael D. Wilson

Friday, September 5, 1997

Commercial forestry will
profit both land and people

There seems to be a misconception among some people that forest plantations are bad for our state. This is simply not true.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources' vision for a commercial forest industry -- one that is environmentally sustainable and economically profitable for the investor, small and large landowners, and the people of Hawaii -- is a total forest system that includes both protected watersheds and healthy native ecosystems. This vision is achievable.

Many elements support establishment of a forestry industry in Hawaii.

There is an abundance of land, formerly in sugar cane, ideally suited for forest planting. Hawaii offers an all-year growing season.

Hawaii's local artisans, woodworkers, mills and other businesses would be supplied with a sustainable amount of rich hardwoods to substitute for imported materials. More than 97 percent of the wood used in construction today is shipped to us, adding to the costs.

Hawaii offers political stability, skilled workers and existing infrastructure (roads, ports, communication).

Finally, the forest industry provides benefits to the environment including watershed protection.

DLNR's primary long-term aim is to ensure the greatest number and highest quality of jobs for our residents. To achieve this, Hawaii's future in the forest products industry will depend on not only growing trees, but maximizing the domestic processing of high-quality wood products such as furniture, building material, musical instruments, crafts, etc. This policy should strongly influence the use of public lands.

For example, an integrated forest industry initiative on the Big Island of 60,000 acres of new forest plantations could support a processed board mill, a chip export mill, a veneer mill, a sawmill and other craft wood uses.

Direct employment opportunities generated from such a forest development initiative can build up to a long-term sustainable level of around 500 employees. This does not take into account the spin-off benefits and multiplier effects of the industry.

Jobs and more jobs for Hamakua

The forest growing/harvesting program will create sustainable full-time employment for more than 200 people, with peaks of more than 300 in the early establishment years. The processing sector would provide an additional long-term level of 250 employees. Using a multiplier factor of 2.2 for each direct job, more than 1,250 jobs for the Hamakua Coast appears to be a realistic possibility.

A large number of skilled workers will be required to staff these plants, including engineers, computer operators, marketing personnel and accountants. The availability and value of existing plantation forest resources within state-owned forest lands can help speed up the establishment of processing options by providing a ready supply of wood immediately. Private investments could total more than $140 million in forest establishment and $90 million in processing plants.

Forestry won't crowd out ag

Forestry opponents argue that commercial forestry will compete with diversified agriculture, that monocrop forests (like eucalyptus) are bad for the environment, that a foreign investor will build harmful pulp mills and that the state is giving up control of public land by loosely leasing land to a Japanese paper company.

There is enough available land for both a viable forest industry and increased diversified agriculture. In fact, commercial forestry, or agriforestry, is part of diversified agriculture.

We believe that quality agricultural lands accessible to existing irrigation systems should be reserved for other diversified agriculture like taro, papaya, ginger and other nursery crops.

In 1993, an Environmental Assessment was submitted for public review that set aside more than 1,500 acres of former Hamakua sugar lands for such diversified agriculture. Much of this land still has not been fully utilized and may be made available to responsible local farmers.

Eucalyptus species have and continue to be a popular choice for forest plantations because of their rapid growth and the wide range of conditions in which the more than 600 species of eucalyptus can grow. Criticisms about eucalyptus plantations in Hawaii are just not true.

Eucalyptus plantations have not negatively affected water tables. As a matter of fact, eucalyptus plantations have been in some of Hawaii's most important watersheds on Oahu for more than 80 years.

There have been accusations that eucalyptus trees in Hawaii have compounds that restrict the growth of any other vegetation. Although mature forest plantations can shade out ground vegetation when their canopy closes, there are numerous plantations in Hawaii where it is hard to work because of the prolific undergrowth of other vegetation.

There will be no pulp mill factory

In regard to the potential leasing of 5,100 acres of Hamakua land to the Oji Paper Co., this is in reality only a small portion of land available on the Big Island for agricultural development. A great deal of caution is being taken by DLNR to ensure that the land, if leased to Oji Paper, is to be used responsibly. There are no plans to build a pulp mill factory in Hawaii.

According to terms of the proposed lease, the forest developers must submit a management plan approved by the BLNR within six months of the lease starting date. The plan must address such things as weeding and erosion control measures, road construction and maintenance, fire plan, harvesting operations, etc.

The downsizing of the sugar industry has added a new chapter to Hawaii's long history of forest management. The state has the potential to develop a sustainable commercial forest sector, one that is in balance with its native and watershed forests, tourist economy and the needs of its local communities. That is a good thing.

Aina and access will be protected

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources has stipulated many conditions in a Big Island lease proposal with Oji Paper Co. These conditions, designed to benefit the land, the state and local residents, include :

The forest developer will provide money to assure local residents get needed training for employment.

Public access to mauka Forest Reserves will be maintained for hunting, hiking and gathering.

Ten percent of the lands (approximately 500 acres) will be planted in high-value hardwoods, which will be owned by the state.

Landscape buffers will be planted along all public highways within the project area.

The state will receive a small royalty on the harvested wood.

-- Michael D. Wilson

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Michael D. Wilson is chairman of the
state Board of Land and Natural Resources.
The opinions in View Point columns are the authors'
and are not necessarily shared by the Star-Bulletin.