LEGACY LAND CONSERVATION COMMISSION SEEKS NEW MEMBERS

News Release from DLNR November 7, 2014

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife seeks applications for three vacancies on the Legacy Land Conservation Commission, a nine-member Commission appointed by the Governor to advise the Department on grants from the Legacy Land Conservation Program (“Legacy Land”). 

Legacy Land program provides state grant funding to state agencies, counties, and nonprofit land conservation organizations to acquire and protect lands having value as watersheds; coastal areas, beaches, and ocean access; habitat; cultural and historic sites; recreational and public hunting areas; parks; natural areas; agricultural production; and open spaces and scenic resources.

So far, Legacy Land has awarded funds for the protection of more than 20,000 acres of conservation lands on five islands. Projects may include acquisition of fee title or conservation easements.  Legacy Land grants allow agencies and nonprofit organizations to protect Hawaii’s lands and resources when the opportunity to purchase them becomes available. 

The Legacy Land program also allows applicants to take advantage of other funding programs that require a local match.  On average, Legacy Land applicants leverage each Legacy Land dollar with approximately two dollars in federal, private, or county matching funds. 

The Commission consists of nine members, with at least one member from each of the counties, and it meets about six times per year.   The positions are unpaid, except for reimbursement of travel expenses.  The primary duty of the Commission is reviewing project proposals and making recommendations to the Board of Land and Natural Resources regarding grant awards. 

There are currently three vacancies for: 

1.        a member possessing an academic degree in the sciences, such as wildlife or marine biology, botany, forestry, ecology, resource management, biogeography, zoology or geology. 

2.        a member of a Hawaii environmental organization. 

3.        a member of a statewide agricultural association.

Applications may be submitted online to the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions at http://boards.hawaii.gov/ . 

Interested applicants may find more information regarding the Legacy Land Conservation Program at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/llcp/ and can contact the Program Coordinator with questions at 586-0921. 

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