Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono

The requested funding would be used for construction of a Research and Education Center to achieve the potential of the recently established Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest.

The Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-574, 1992) authorized the establishment of the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest to serve as a center for long-term research and as a focal point for developing and transferring knowledge and expertise for the management of tropical landscapes.  Since its March 2007 establishment, in cooperation with the State of Hawaii, great progress has been made.  Working with the University of Hawaii (UH), The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest (HETF) has been selected as one of the National Science Foundation’s 20 Core Wildland Sites of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), a 30-year science program.  HETF was also selected as one site of the US Forest Service’s National Experimental Forest Synthesis Network.  Dozens of research projects led by University and Forest Service Scientists have begun on HETF since its establishment.   While no matching funds are available, NSF-NEON, USFS, UH,  and other agencies are contributing to the project in terms of salaries, development of permanent climate, vegetation and water sampling stations, and several other research endeavors. However, additional funds for construction of the biological field station are critical to insure the participation and success of these projects.  Many professors, students, and scientists have pleaded to get this field station built.

The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest has the potential to become a world center of excellence in the study of and education about tropical forests and watersheds.  But this will require a commitment for funding of the infrastructure needs (roads, power, and buildings for the biological field station, etc.).  To fully realize its potential as a local, regional, and global center of research, education and demonstration, biological field stations consisting of housing, offices, teaching pavilions, and labs are needed.  As part of past appropriations, a team of national engineers have estimated a total cost of $10,000,000 will be needed to construct a modest, yet functional biological field station and the associated infrastructure.

 

Recipient: Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Pacific Southwest Field Station

60 Nowelo Street

Hilo, HI 96720

Why this is a good use of taxpayer dollars: The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest has the potential to become a world center of excellence in the study of and education about tropical forests and watersheds.