Bill would include Hawaii in National Forest System

A proposal to add Hawaii’s forests to the National Forest System has cleared the U.S. House in a bill sponsored by Hawaii Congressman Ed Case.

Case, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and of its subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, said the measure passed the full House on Thursday and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

“My measure will move us toward finally correcting a longstanding omission by adding the best of Hawaii’s unique and endangered forests to our country’s invaluable National Forest System,” Case said in a news release. “It will direct our federal government to pursue a formal process led by the U.S. Forest Service of engaging with state and community stakeholders toward identification of the most suitable Hawaii forests for inclusion as National Forests.”

The National Forest System includes 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands among millions of acres.

“Despite having some of the most unique and endangered forest lands in the country, Hawai‘i is one of only a handful of states nationwide without a National Forest. Establishing a National Forest in Hawai‘i would support tropical forest conservation and research throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and provide appropriate recreational, cultural and commercial opportunities in Hawai‘i,” all with financial and other assistance from the federal government, he said.