Department of Land & Natural Resources

Overview

1.   Save or create jobs and promote economic recovery
The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) overall strategy for use of Recovery Act funds is geared to save or create jobs at risk from cuts in departmental programs due to restrictions and reductions in general and special fund operating budgets as a result of the economic recession.  Departmental general fund salary budgets have been reduced approximately 15% and revenue into the Natural Area Special fund which support Natural Area Reserve System (NARS) programs, the Watershed Partnership Program, Forest Reserve Management Program, and Hawaii Invasive Species Committee Program has declined approximately 50% from 2009 levels.  The Recovery Act funds will be used to prevent layoffs of 16 Departmental staff in the Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s NARS program, Forest Reserve Management Program; layoff of 23 University of Hawaii – Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit positions working on invasive species committees and watershed partnerships; 45 Americorps Interns working on natural resource management projects; and 13 contract positions working on field construction projects. 

2.  Use ARRA funds to stabilize the State’s fiscal situation
DLNR ARRA funds will provide a bridge of funding for 2 years to maintain critical core program staffing and services until the economy recovers and special fund and general fund support can be resumed. 

3.  Spend ARRA funds wisely
All of DLNR’s ARRA grants were obtained on a competitive basis and support core program areas of natural resource protection, wildland fire management and prevention, invasive species control, and youth training.  Projects that fell under existing federal programmatic mandates for Wildland Fire Management and Forest Health protection were submitted to the U.S. Forest Service.  Projects that met these programmatic requirements were prioritized by the Department according to need and project effectiveness while considering state budget shortfalls for managing invasive species and fire prevention, two primary threats to Hawaii’s forests.  Without additional funding these important projects would have suffered setbacks such as staff losses that would have jeopardized past successes.  These ARRA-funded projects will continue to protect Hawaii’s forests against the risks posed by invasive species (plants, insects and disease) and wildland fires.  Public benefits include the continued management of invasive plants to protect Hawaii’s native plant and animal habitat, clean water supply, and maintaining the state’s natural resources and natural beauty and reduced incidence of and damage to forest resources sustained by wildland fires.  The early detection of forest pests in urban forests will provide entomology expertise for identifying new pests as well as outreach to improve public capacity to report new pest outbreaks.  Faster detection of pests in urban forest will allow foresters and arborists to manage problems before they jump to nearby watershed forests.  The development of techniques for vegetatively propagating koa tree will speed the development of disease resistant koa planting stock for commercial production and reforestation.

The Corporation for National and Community Service’s (CNCS) AmeriCorps State programs ARRA was awarded as grants to current programs/grantees only with a proven track record and previously demonstrated capacity to efficiently and effectively implement projects and use new resources to assist communities in need.  The ARRA Recovery YCC grants included the expansion of existing projects or addition of new projects and an increase in members served, state-match waivers and/or federal funds for the grantee portions of the match. Recovery YCC host sites were selected from existing partners that demonstrated interest and the capacity to support the program.  Recovery YCC AmeriCorps members work to protect Hawaii’s natural and cultural resources: vital components for the perpetuation of healthy and environmentally literate communities.

4.  Use ARRA funds to improve Hawaii’s economic competitiveness
DLNR applied for and received grants dealing with maintaining core natural resource programs of fire protection, control of invasive species, protection of rare and endangered species, protection of agricultural and tourism industries from damage of invasive species, and training of youth in natural resource programs.  Funding these programs maintains critical progress made over the past few years and prevents having to restart suspended projects and repeat conservation actions previously taken.  Youth conservation training programs prepare young professional to work and compete in the newly emerging field of environmental and conservation management to fill the new green jobs that will become available in the future.

5.  Secure the maximum amount of ARRA resources available to Hawai‘i
All grants received by DLNR were awarded on a competitive basis.  DLNR received 4 ARRA grants totaling $6,570,344 in the subject areas of Water and Environmental Infrastructure and Job Training and Unemployment.  Seven ARRA funding opportunities known to the Department were applied for but not funded.  Unfunded projects were denied either because the proposed projects did not match federal program mandates/requirements or proposed projects were not selected because they did not rank high enough in competitive rankings on a national basis. The Department sent out inquiries about availability of ARRA grants to six federal agencies which provide natural resource management grants and expressed interest in participating in the program.

6. Apply federal accountability and transparency requirements
DLNR ARRA grants were awarded under existing long-term federal programs and meet federal guidelines for accountability, transparency, and federal reporting requirements.  New ARRA reporting requirements are similar or identical to those currently in use but at a more frequent interval (quarterly vs semi-annually or annually).  All grants are expansions of existing federal programs with existing review and oversight processes.  Grants are being implemented by staff experienced in federal grant management and programmatic and administrative procedures.  In addition, department staff will work closely in cooperation with the federal funding agency to eliminate any duplication and ensure funds are used properly. 

7.  Fulfill federal reporting requirements
New ARRA reporting requirements are similar or identical to those currently in use but at a more frequent interval (quarterly vs semi-annually or annually).  All grants are expansions of existing federal programs with existing review, reporting and oversight processes.  Grants are being implemented by staff experienced in federal grant management and programmatic and administrative procedures. Project inspections, quarterly reports, and special accounting protocols will meet federal reporting requirements and alert the Department to any abuse, fraud or compliance issues including meeting implementation and accomplishment targets.

Awards

 ARRA Recovery Team