Don’t cut down promise
By John Ray
of forest industry in Hawaii
IN coming weeks, the Big Island County Council will probably be deliberating a lease arrangement between Oji-Marubeni, a Japanese-owned forest products company, and Hawaii County. This negotiation, coupled with recent private and proposed state leases to the timber industry, has prompted heated debate. Are forest plantations, specifically eucalyptus plantations, bad for Hawaii's environment? I don't believe so.
Sustainable, well-managed timber plantations utilize environmentally sound cultivation and harvesting practices which compare favorably with other agriculture uses.
Burning of former unharvested cane fields is a one-time practice. It is utilized when mechanical clearing won't work, and only affects a small percentage of total acreage cultivated.
Aerial spraying, when used, is carefully monitored and regulated, uses 30 percent less chemical than ground applications, and maintains buffer zones of no less than 600 feet from resident neighbors.
All chemicals used are in the non-regulated, off-the-shelf category, and are applied only in the first year of cultivation. For the rest of the growing cycle, from five to 12 years or more, no chemicals are used.
The species of eucalyptus to be planted in Hawaii are genetically evolved, suited for our environment, and have no known toxic effects to soil or water. Leaves and bark deposited during growing cycles and at harvest will improve soil fertility.
Worldwide, land cleared of eucalyptus and returned to sugar has shown improved yields. Buffer zones will be maintained along major roadways and, at harvest, an average of no more than 50-100 acres will be cut at one time.
Timber processing will place demands on our infrastructure, especially our roads. I'm confident in meeting with the state transportation officials that they will do everything possible to address the situation, especially with respect to a Waimea-Kawaihae bypass.
The forest industry can provide dynamic educational and research opportunities, not only for short rotation crops but for a wide range of tropical hardwoods.
The potential for agro-forestry that combines trees with other crops such as food and pharmaceuticals is promising. And exciting opportunities exist for gulch and native species restoration projects, particularly in Hamakua where a large percentage of the land is not topographically well-suited for plantation forestry.
FROM a more global perspective, cultivating fast-growing trees is recognized as the only environmentally responsible way to meet our future needs for wood and paper.
High-yield plantation forestry is expected to double the per-acre wood yield from American forests over the next 70 years. Faster growing trees should let us cut the logging impact on American forests by 50 percent, and radically reduce the impact of our wood and paper needs on wildlife.
The second major area of discussion centers around forestry vs. other agricultural uses on these public and private lands. Are there more competitive or higher value uses available for the lands proposed for forestry? Again, I don't believe so. When looking at agricultural ventures, or any type of business, market analysis has to be a key, if not the most important concern.
How, to whom and at what price will you sell your product? Statewide, we're faced with tens of thousands of acres of productive agricultural land recently vacated by the sugar and pineapple industries.
From a land management and utilization standpoint, the real dilemma is that we have too much, not too little, land for agricultural use.
Additionally, in higher rainfall areas such as Hamakua, former cane lands require immediate and costly management to prevent them from turning into ironwood forests and becoming cost prohibitive to clear and cultivate.
Much analysis and discussion have taken place to determine the best sites and opportunities for various types of diversified agricultural production in Hamakua.
Clearly the lands along, but especially below, Mamalahoa Highway, and the lower Hamakua Ditch have the greatest potential, and should be the primary focus for small-scale agriculture.
These lower and potentially irrigated lands represent more than 3,000 acres. To put this in some perspective, the state Department of Agriculture estimated in 1993 that all of the fresh fruits and vegetables consumed in the state could be grown on about 18,000 acres, assuming only one crop per year.
For various reasons, certain crops can't be grown in Hawaii. And because we grow multiple crops per acre per year, our actual land needs for local consumption are considerably less.
We hope to develop export markets, especially for high-value tropical fruits and other orchard crops, but our overall agricultural land needs are relatively small compared to the total acreage available.
We also have to keep in mind that crops grown in Hamakua have to compete not only with imported products, but with crops grown throughout the state, particularly on Oahu, which also has thousands of acres of former plantation lands as well as 80 percent of the state's population.
Another economic reality which must be faced is where will the capital and business skills come from to start all of these small-scale farming ventures?
Certain government funded assistance is available, but shouldn't we focus on the lands which have the greatest potential for success? Lands proposed for forestry leases are well-suited for that specific use.
The property tax rates and proposed lease rents are competitive. The demand for wood fiber in the next century, particularly in the Pacific region, is tremendous.
The overall economic vision I share for the forest industry in Hawaii includes a combination of wood chip exports, fiber or strandboard production, a veneer plant and local sawmills.
THE types of products routinely produced from eucalyptus include wood chips for high-quality paper, strandboard for joists, girders and sub-flooring, fiberboard for furniture, crafts and cabinets, veneer for concrete form-ply, laminated veneer lumber, core for fancy plywood and doors, and sawtimber for architectural detail, structural housing, furniture, cabinets, flooring, pallets and fence posts.
With this array of uses, the forest products industry will provide substantial jobs -- over 1,000 with 60,000 acres of plantings statewide.
Rather than fighting over these lands, we should focus on pursuing realistic agricultural goals and ventures.
John Ray is chairman of the Committee on Human Services
and Economic Development of the Hawaii County Council.
