LIHU‘E — The state Department of Land and Natural Resources Legacy Land Conservation Program is seeking applicants for grants from the State Land Conservation Fund to fund the protection, through acquisition, of lands having value as a resource to the
LIHU‘E — The state Department of Land and Natural Resources Legacy Land Conservation Program is seeking applicants for grants from the State Land Conservation Fund to fund the protection, through acquisition, of lands having value as a resource to the state, a news release states.
The application deadline is Sept. 16.
“The Legacy Land Conservation Program provides an annual source of funding for the acquisition and conservation of watersheds; coastal areas, beaches and ocean access; habitat protection; cultural and historic sites; recreational and public hunting areas; parks; natural areas; agricultural production; and open spaces and scenic resources,” said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson.
The program was championed by former state Rep. Ezra Kanoho, D-Wailua-Lihu‘e-Koloa, when he was in the state Legislature. He helped write the legislation that led to establishment of the fund.
State agencies, county agencies, and nonprofit, land-conservation organizations may apply for funding.
Proposed projects may include acquisition of fee title or conservation easements. County agencies and nonprofit project applicants must be able to provide at least 25 percent of the total project costs.
The 2010-2011 application cycle may provide approximately $4 million in grants, awarded through a competitive process and subject to any budget restrictions, the release states.
Ten percent of the state’s land-conveyance tax is set aside annually in the Land Conservation Fund for the purpose of protecting Hawai‘i’s unique and valuable resource lands.
Project applications will be reviewed by the Legacy Land Conservation Commission, which will nominate projects for funding.
Projects are subject to the approval of the BLNR, in consultation with the state Senate president and speaker of the state House of Representatives, review by the state Department of the Attorney General and approval of the governor.
Final awards are subject to availability of funds.
Earlier this year, the BLNR approved and Gov. Linda Lingle released approximately $3.3 million from the Land Conservation Fund for seven projects to acquire and protect properties that have value as natural or cultural resources to the state.
The release of these state funds helped secure approximately $9.5 million in matching federal, county and private funds toward the protection of these lands, the release states.
That included release of $800,000 to the County of Kaua‘i and Kaua‘i Public Land Trust for acquisition of 0.74 acres of land next to the county Black Pot Beach Park on Hanalei Bay, for park expansion.
Since its inception in 2006, the Legacy Land Conservation Program has awarded an average of $3.4 million in grant funding per year, protecting a total of approximately 7,220 acres of lands having natural, cultural, and agricultural resource value, and leveraging a total of about $37.8 million in matching federal, private, and county funds.
See http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/llcp for the 2010-2011 LLCP grant application and instructions. Applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 16.
See the same Website for more information on the Legacy Land Conservation Program, or call toll-free 274-3141, then dial 6-0921# after the recorded message.
