HI SCR124

Urges the Governor, in coordination with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and assisted by the Office of Planning, to establish and implement a tree planting program planting at least one million native trees per year over the next four years.

Identifies tree planting benefits including carbon sequestration, watershed filtration, groundwater recharge, erosion control, flood mitigation, urban heat island effect reduction, wildlife habitat preservation, and recreational area expansion.

References Hawaii's loss of nearly half its native forest cover since western contact and ongoing forest reduction from invasive species and wildfires.

Urges the State and City and County of Honolulu to partner on completing the "lei of green" (an interconnected system of green parks, open space, and tree-lined pedestrian paths) from Diamond Head to Aloha Tower as a model for statewide expansion.

Requires transmitting certified copies to the Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Director of the Office of Planning, and Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu.