bkrownd
Well-known member
The State budget crisis could potentially cause some problems for our conservation efforts. A few days ago the State announced that DOCARE officers (DLNR police) hours would be cut. They patrol shorelines, forest reserves and such. They're rarely seen in the native habitats, though. Maybe 1-3 days a year I see them checking hunting permits. I get the impression they spend most of their time down at the beach parks.
Today it was leaked that the governor wants to close the Kulani Correctional Facility (low security prison), which is the keystone of Hawai'i's windward conservation areas. Kulani is fenced and patrolled by the prison staff, and Kulani staffs the fencing crews that build many of the island's conservation fences. Kulani has a very high concentration of endangered species, including many rare plants and all of the island's endangered forest birds except palila. (but still within former palila range, IIRC) Don't know what would happen to the area and conservation work there if the facility was decomissioned.
On the flip side, I've seen some new temporary conservation jobs are appearing in other areas as a result of the Federal stimulus money.
I'm not on the inside though, so that's just the rumors I've caught wind of.
Today it was leaked that the governor wants to close the Kulani Correctional Facility (low security prison), which is the keystone of Hawai'i's windward conservation areas. Kulani is fenced and patrolled by the prison staff, and Kulani staffs the fencing crews that build many of the island's conservation fences. Kulani has a very high concentration of endangered species, including many rare plants and all of the island's endangered forest birds except palila. (but still within former palila range, IIRC) Don't know what would happen to the area and conservation work there if the facility was decomissioned.
On the flip side, I've seen some new temporary conservation jobs are appearing in other areas as a result of the Federal stimulus money.
I'm not on the inside though, so that's just the rumors I've caught wind of.
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