Report on Maui County’s Water Preservation Initiative and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary: Bill 56 Proposal

The Maui County Council is reviewing Bill 56, a legislative proposal to establish a “preservation water rate” for non-profit organizations dedicated to cultivating native Hawaiian plants. This initiative, endorsed by the county’s Department of Water Supply, aims to support ecological restoration efforts by providing financial relief to organizations currently ineligible for agricultural water rates. The proposed rate of $4.63 per 1,000 gallons for fiscal year 2025 represents a substantial decrease from the general consumer rate of $7.58, directly enabling conservation activities that align with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Direct Contributions to SDG 15: Life on Land

The initiative is fundamentally aligned with SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

• Target 15.1 (Conserve and restore terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems): The core objective is to facilitate the work of non-profits in restoring native forests and habitats. This includes large-scale planting of native trees like koa and the management of protected areas such as the Waihee and Nu`u Refuges.
• Target 15.5 (Protect biodiversity and natural habitats): By enabling the cultivation of rare native plants like Ohai and foundation species like the Loulu palm, the bill directly supports the fight against biodiversity loss. Reforestation efforts are explicitly aimed at restoring habitats for native birds.
• Watershed Protection: The program strengthens the health of the Haleakala and West Maui Mountains watersheds. Native plants are crucial for creating the conditions that allow rainwater to percolate and replenish groundwater supplies, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the island’s water sources.

Advancement of SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The proposed water rate is a strategic tool for advancing SDG 6 by promoting the sustainable management of water resources.

• Target 6.6 (Protect and restore water-related ecosystems): The bill directly incentivizes the restoration of watersheds, which are critical water-related ecosystems. A healthy native forest improves the efficiency of the hydrologic cycle.
• Sustainable Water Management: The initiative encourages the use of less water-intensive native plants, promoting water conservation across the county and providing sustainable landscaping options for the wider community.
• Resilience and Water Quality: The restoration of native plant cover has significant downstream benefits, including the reduction of flooding and soil erosion, which helps protect the quality of surface and groundwater.

Broader Impacts on Associated Sustainable Development Goals

The project’s benefits extend to other critical SDGs, demonstrating an integrated approach to sustainable development.

1. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The initiative supports Target 11.4 by strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage. The cultivation of the Loulu palm, vital for traditional Hawaiian weaving and construction, is a prime example of preserving cultural practices through ecological restoration.
2. SDG 13 (Climate Action): By promoting reforestation, the project contributes to climate change mitigation (carbon sequestration) and adaptation. Restored ecosystems enhance resilience to climate-related hazards such as extreme rainfall events by reducing flooding and erosion.
3. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The proposal is a model for Target 17.17, showcasing an effective partnership between a government body (Maui County Council and Water Department) and civil society organizations (Hawaii Land Trust, Waiohuli Mana Foundation) to achieve common sustainability objectives.

Case Studies: Non-Profit Leadership in Restoration

• Waiohuli Mana Foundation: This non-profit is actively reforesting eight residential lots, having planted 500 koa trees in an effort to restore habitats and bring back native bird species.
• Hawaii Land Trust: The trust manages the 277-acre Waihee Refuge and the 81-acre Nu`u Refuge. Its nursery cultivates culturally and ecologically vital species, including the Loulu palm. The trust has already planted 500 Loulu palms and is raising another 500, demonstrating a significant commitment to restoring foundational species for biodiversity.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article directly addresses water management by discussing the creation of a “preservation water rate” to support the growth of native plants. These plants are crucial for creating and maintaining healthy watersheds, which are the source of groundwater. The text states that native plants “play a key role in creating the watersheds for Haleakala and the West Maui Mountains” and that their restoration will increase “the efficiency of the hydrologic process in the watersheds.”

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The initiative is a local government action (Maui County Council) aimed at making the community more sustainable and resilient. It connects to this goal by seeking to protect natural and cultural heritage. The article mentions growing Loulu palms for “cultural practices” and restoring native forests, which are part of Maui’s natural heritage. Furthermore, it notes that restoring native plants can help “reduce flooding and erosion,” which contributes to making the community safer and more resilient to water-related disasters.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This is a central theme of the article. The entire project focuses on restoring terrestrial ecosystems. The efforts of the nonprofit trusts are described as a “naive reforestation effort” aimed at restoring native forests, halting biodiversity loss by “trying to bring the native birds back,” and protecting rare native plants like Ohai. The work at the Waihee and Nu`u Refuges is a direct effort to conserve and restore land ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management at all levels. The article describes a local government (Maui County) creating a specific policy (Bill 56) to manage water resources by linking water rates to environmental preservation goals, which is a form of integrated management.
   • Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, and aquifers. The primary justification for the new water rate is to support the growth of native plants that are essential for creating “the watersheds for Haleakala and the West Maui Mountains,” directly contributing to the restoration of these water-related ecosystems.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The project supports growing plants like the Loulu palm, which is used for “cultural practices,” and protects rare native plants and forests, which are part of Maui’s natural heritage.
   • Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the impact of disasters, including water-related ones. The article explicitly states that “The restoration of native plants and trees could also have downstream benefits by helping to reduce flooding and erosion,” which directly relates to mitigating water-related disasters.

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests. The work of the Hawaiian Island Land Trust at the Waihee and Nu`u Refuges and the Waiohuli Mana Foundation’s reforestation efforts are direct actions towards conserving and restoring terrestrial ecosystems.
   • Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, and restore degraded forests. The article highlights a “purely a naive reforestation effort,” including the planting of 500 koa trees, which is a direct example of reforestation.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and protect threatened species. The project aims to bring back native birds, protect rare plants like Ohai, and grow Loulu palms as a “foundation for biodiversity,” all of which are actions to halt biodiversity loss.
   • Target 15.9: Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into local planning and development processes. The creation of Bill 56 by the Maui County Council is a clear example of integrating the value of ecosystems (watersheds, biodiversity) into local policy and financial planning (water rates).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Policy Implementation: The creation and implementation of the “preservation water rate” itself is a key indicator. The article provides specific figures: the proposed rate is “$4.63 per 1,000 gallons” compared to the general rate of “$7.58 per 1,000 gallons.” Progress can be measured by the formal adoption of Bill 56.
• Area of Land Under Restoration: The article mentions specific areas being managed for conservation, which can be used as an indicator of scale. Examples include the “277 acres in Waihee,” the “81-acre Nu`u Refuge,” and the “eight residential lots in Waiohului.”
• Number of Trees/Plants Planted: The article provides quantitative data on reforestation efforts. Specific examples include the Waiohuli Mana Foundation “planting a number of native plants including 500 koa trees” and the Hawaii Land Trust having “planted 500 Loulu and are raising another crop of 500.” These numbers serve as direct indicators of restoration activity.
• Number of Beneficiary Organizations: The number of nonprofit growers that qualify for and use the new preservation water rate is an indicator of the policy’s reach and impact. The article identifies two initial organizations: the “Hawaiian Island Land Trust and Waiohuli Mana Foundation.”

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: mauinews.com