Kirstin Downey: 6 Land Conservation Projects Win Approval For State Funds – Honolulu Civil Beat

Report on the Legacy Land Conservation Program Grant Allocations and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Hawaiʻi’s Legacy Land Conservation Program recently recommended funding for six of nine meritorious land conservation projects, distributing a total of $255,000 in operational grants. The competitive allocation process highlights the program’s critical role in advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). However, significant financial constraints, imposed by a legislative cap on the program’s funding, are impeding the state’s capacity to fully support vital conservation and cultural preservation efforts, thereby limiting progress toward these global goals.

Program Overview and Contribution to Sustainable Development

Mandate and Funding Mechanism

The Legacy Land Conservation Program was established in 2005 to provide a dedicated funding source for the acquisition and stewardship of lands with significant natural, cultural, and agricultural value. The program is designed to protect lands threatened by development, thereby safeguarding biodiversity, cultural heritage, and ecological integrity. It is funded by 10% of the state’s real estate conveyance tax revenue. This mechanism represents a strategic partnership for sustainable development, as outlined in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by leveraging public funds and requiring private matching donations from applicant organizations.

Alignment with Global Goals

The program’s core mission directly supports the achievement of several key Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 15 (Life on Land): By funding projects that remove invasive species, restore native habitats, and protect endangered species, the program is a primary driver for halting biodiversity loss and reversing land degradation.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): The program supports the conservation and sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystems through projects like fishpond restoration, which enhances marine biodiversity and ecosystem health.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): A significant focus is placed on protecting and safeguarding cultural and natural heritage, a key target of SDG 11. Many funded sites serve as educational centers, promoting inclusive and sustainable community engagement.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The preservation of forests, wetlands, and other natural landscapes contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation by protecting vital carbon sinks.

Analysis of 2024 Grant Recommendations

Recommended Projects and SDG Impact

The Legacy Land Conservation Commission reviewed nine applications and recommended six for funding. The approved projects demonstrate a clear commitment to advancing sustainability across the islands.

1. Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center ($50,000): Funding will replace the roof at the Kanewai Spring cultural site, enabling expanded public and educational programming.
   • SDG Impact: Supports SDG 14 (Life Below Water) through coastal ecosystem preservation, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by protecting cultural heritage, and SDG 4 (Quality Education) through community engagement.
2. Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden ($51,000): Funds will be used to acquire non-chemical weed removal equipment and a tractor to combat invasive species and restore the 13.6-acre garden.
   • SDG Impact: Directly advances SDG 15 (Life on Land) by controlling invasive species and protecting plant biodiversity.
3. Kona Historical Society ($15,328): The grant will fund maintenance at the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, a site demonstrating traditional agricultural practices.
   • SDG Impact: Contributes to SDG 11 by preserving cultural heritage and SDG 15 by maintaining sustainable agricultural landscapes.
4. Hawaiian Islands Land Trust ($51,000): The award will support wetlands management at the 78-acre Nuʻu refuge on Maui, a critical habitat for endangered native birds.
   • SDG Impact: Furthers the goals of SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water) by protecting vital wetland ecosystems and the habitats of endangered species.
5. National Tropical Botanical Garden ($50,000): Funding is designated for the removal of invasive species at the Kahanu Garden and the Piʻilanihale Heiau national historic landmark on Maui.
   • SDG Impact: Aligns with SDG 15 by combating invasive species and SDG 11 by safeguarding a site of major cultural and historical importance.
6. Aloha Kuamoʻo ʻĀina ($37,000): This partial funding award will support road repairs to improve access to the historic 47-acre Kuamoʻo battlefield site for cultural and maintenance activities.
   • SDG Impact: Supports SDG 11 through the preservation and accessibility of a significant cultural heritage site.

Unfunded Projects: A Missed Opportunity for SDG Advancement

Three applicant organizations did not receive funding due to financial limitations, representing a missed opportunity to advance conservation and cultural preservation goals.

• Ke Ao Haliʻi: Sought funds for an archaeological survey and invasive species removal, directly related to SDG 11 and SDG 15.
• Māhukona Navigational and Ecological Complex: Requested funding for maintenance at a 642-acre Polynesian voyaging site, impacting targets within SDG 11 and SDG 15.
• ‘Anaehoʻomale Kapalaoa Cultural Center: Required funds for maintenance and signage at a 27-acre ancestral homeland, work that aligns with SDG 11.

Financial Constraints and Implications for SDG Targets

Legislative Caps on Program Funding

Despite a legal framework dedicating 10% of the state’s real estate conveyance tax to the program, the Legislature has consistently capped the annual allocation, diverting surplus revenue to the general fund. In fiscal year 2024, the conveyance tax generated nearly $100 million, which should have resulted in approximately $10 million for the Legacy Land fund. Instead, the program was capped at $5.1 million, its lowest level in 18 years when adjusted for inflation. This chronic underfunding severely restricts the state’s ability to meet its conservation objectives and, by extension, its contribution to global Sustainable Development Goals.

Stakeholder Concerns

Commissioners and officials from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) have expressed disappointment with the inadequate funding levels. During the recent legislative session, DLNR Chair Dawn Chang advocated for an increase to $9.8 million, calling it a “critical amendment” to restore the state’s ability to protect its resources. The failure to lift the cap means that deserving projects that directly support Hawaiʻi’s environmental and cultural resilience remain unfunded, slowing progress on critical SDG targets.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article discusses the protection of cultural and natural heritage sites located within or near communities in Hawaiʻi. The Legacy Land Conservation Program funds projects that safeguard these areas, such as the Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center in Hawaiʻi Kai and the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, contributing to the preservation of local heritage for community benefit and sustainable development.
2. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The conservation efforts described in the article directly impact marine and coastal ecosystems. The program has funded the purchase and protection of coastal areas like the “Halulu Fishpond on Kauaʻi, the Kaiwi coastline on eastern O’ahu and 52 acres of undeveloped shoreline at Kawela Bay.” The funding for the Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center and the Nuʻu refuge wetlands also supports the health of coastal ecosystems.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • This is the most central SDG in the article. The Legacy Land Conservation Program’s primary mission is to acquire and protect lands for their “environmental significance or importance as habitats for endangered species.” The article highlights projects aimed at removing invasive species, protecting wetlands that are habitats for native birds, and preserving ethnobotanical gardens, all of which are core components of protecting life on land.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article illustrates a multi-stakeholder partnership model. The Legacy Land Conservation Program is a state-run entity that partners with non-profit organizations. A key requirement for these non-profits is to “provide proof that they had found private donations to match the public money they would receive,” demonstrating a public-private partnership model to achieve conservation goals.

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

1. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
   • This target is directly addressed through the program’s funding of sites with significant cultural value. The article mentions the preservation of the “Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center,” the “Kona Coffee Living History Farm,” the “preserved Piʻilanihale Heiau, a national historic landmark,” and the “47-acre historic property where the 1819 Battle of Kuamoʻo was fought.” These actions are explicit efforts to safeguard cultural heritage.
2. Target 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information.
   • The program contributes to this target by facilitating the acquisition and protection of significant coastal lands. The article cites the purchase of the “Kaiwi coastline on eastern O’ahu and 52 acres of undeveloped shoreline at Kawela Bay” as examples of conserving coastal areas that would otherwise be at risk of development.
3. Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
   • The article details projects that align with this target. For instance, the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust received funds for “wetlands management at the 78-acre Nuʻu refuge,” and the Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden was funded to maintain its grounds, both actions contributing to the conservation of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.
4. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
   • The program’s focus on acquiring lands that are “habitats for endangered species” directly supports this target. The article specifically notes that the Nuʻu refuge wetlands are “an important habitat for birds, including the Hawaiian stilt and endangered Hawaiian coot,” making the funding for its management a direct action to protect threatened species.
5. Target 15.8: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species.
   • Several projects mentioned in the article are explicitly focused on combating invasive species. The Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden sought funds “to fend off invasive vegetation,” and the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Hāna sought $50,000 “to remove invasive species from the site.”
6. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • The entire operational model of the Legacy Land Conservation Program is an example of this target. The article explains that the state program provides grants to “nonprofit groups” who are required to “provide proof that they had found private donations to match the public money they would receive.” This collaboration between the state (public), non-profits (civil society), and private donors is a clear public-private partnership.

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

1. Total funding mobilized for conservation:
   • The article provides specific financial figures that can serve as indicators. It mentions the program offered “$255,000 in operations grants” in the current cycle and that the legislative cap for the fund is “$5.1 million” annually. It also notes the requirement for matching private donations, implying a measure of mobilized private capital.
2. Area of land protected:
   • Progress can be measured by the amount of land conserved. The article states the fund has been used to “purchase more than 80 properties” and gives specific examples of acreage, such as “52 acres of undeveloped shoreline at Kawela Bay,” the “13.6-acre public garden,” and the “78-acre Nuʻu refuge.”
3. Number of cultural heritage sites preserved:
   • An indicator is the number of culturally or historically significant sites receiving protection. The article lists several such sites, including the Maunalua Fishpond, Kona Coffee Farm, Piʻilanihale Heiau, and the Kuamoʻo battlefield, which could be tracked to measure progress on safeguarding heritage.
4. Number of projects addressing invasive species:
   • The article identifies specific projects funded for invasive species removal, such as at the Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden and the National Tropical Botanical Garden. The number of such projects funded annually could serve as an indicator of efforts to combat invasive species.
5. Number of habitats for endangered species protected:
   • The article implies this indicator by mentioning the protection of the Nuʻu refuge, a habitat for the “endangered Hawaiian coot.” Tracking the number of protected areas that are critical habitats for threatened or endangered species would be a direct measure of progress.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: civilbeat.org