[§195F-1]  Findings and purpose.  The
legislature finds that:



(1)  Much of the forest land in Hawaii is privately
owned;



(2)  The capacity to protect important watersheds and
native Hawaiian plants and animals and to produce renewable forest resources is
significantly dependent on these privately owned forest and formerly forested
lands;



(3)  The factors essential to the quality of life in
Hawaii, including our water and air quality, mild climate, and habitat
available for plants and animals unique to these islands, can be maintained and
improved through good stewardship of private forest lands;



(4)  To accomplish these purposes, the present system
of state and federal financial and technical assistance programs needs to be
expanded to promote the long-term management of additional privately owned
forest and formerly forested lands throughout the State; and



(5)  A forest stewardship program should be
established to supplement the natural area reserves system's programs under
chapter 195 by encouraging private landowners of privately owned forest and
formerly forested lands that cannot qualify as potential natural area reserves
to make long-term commitments to protect, maintain, and restore important
watersheds, timber resources, fish and wildlife habitats, isolated populations
of rare and endangered plants, native vegetation, and other lands that provide
significant public benefits.



The purpose of this chapter is to establish a
program to financially assist landowners in managing, protecting, and restoring
important natural resources in Hawaii's forested and formerly forested lands.
[L 1991, c 327, pt of §2]