HI SR154

Urges the State to prohibit introduction of biocontrol agents that could threaten economically important forage grass species used in Hawaii's beef cattle industry.

Recognizes Hawaii's beef cattle industry contributes over $48,000,000 annually to the state economy and supports food security through job creation, taxes, and goods/services purchases.

Acknowledges that approximately 750,000 acres (20 percent) of Hawaii's total land mass consists of rangelands that provide ecosystem services including soil stabilization, watershed enhancement, carbon sequestration, and weed suppression.

States that livestock grazing is the most practical tool to manage introduced forage grasses at landscape scale and reduce wildfire threats along the wildland-urban interface.

Urges the State to fund policies and direct state agencies to incentivize livestock grazing for vegetation management on undermanaged state and private lands to protect rangelands and forage grass species.