Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

NEIL ABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR

WILLIAM J. AILA JR, CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release August 21, 2014

DLNR CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM
HELPS LANDOWNERS PROTECT ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE
AND DEGRADED LANDS
Two planner positions now being recruited 

HONOLULU—The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife is seeking to hire two planners to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to new landowners participating in its Hawai‘i Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) .

The Hawai‘i CREP is a federal-state natural resource conservation program that helps interested land owners and managers protect environmentally sensitive and degraded lands. 

Landowners partake in long-term, resource-conserving plantings that restore native forests and vegetation, improve water quality, control soil erosion, and enhance habitats for native wildlife.  Participants are eligible for a variety of financial incentives from both federal and state partners, and have access to technical experts on native forest restoration.

Through this program, as well as through the work of other state supported assistance programs, more than  130 federally endangered plants and animals have benefited from native forest and habitat restoration, and 400 different invasive species have been targeted for removal or control.  

There has been a significant increase in forest cover, and an improvement in forest health in upper elevations that contributes to both water quality and quantity across public and private lands. To date, the program has enrolled over 750 acres with a target of 15,000 acres.  For more information on the Hawaii CREP, please visit https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/lap/crep/. 

One of the CREP planners will be located on Oahu and will provide technical assistance to individuals and groups of landowners and land managers in Oahu, Kauai and Maui Counties in the development, application, and maintenance of Hawai‘i CREP plans and contracts.  

The second position will be located on Hawai‘i Island and will be responsible for providing technical assistance to individuals and groups of landowners and land managers in Hawai‘i County in the development, application, and maintenance of Hawai‘i CREP plans and contracts.  

Both planners will receive general oversight from the DLNR-Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts, USDA-Farm Service Agency, and the USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service.  These positions are funded by a grant awarded to the Department from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

More information regarding these positions may be obtained by contacting Irene Sprecher at (808) 587-4167 or [email protected].  Position openings will close on August 28, 2014.

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Media Contact:

Deborah Ward
Public Information Specialist
(808) 587-0320