Thursday, August 5, 2010

HAWAI‘I’S LEGACY LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM SEEKS

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources’(DLNR) Legacy Land Conservation Program (LLCP) 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 of Hawai‘i.

“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.

State agencies, county agencies, and non-profit land conservation organizations may apply for funding. Proposed projects may include acquisition of fee title or conservation easements. County agencies and non-profit 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. 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 Board of Land and Natural Resources, consultation with the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, review by the Department of the Attorney General and the approval of the Governor. Final awards are subject to the availability of funds.

Earlier this year, the Board of Land and Natural Resources approved and Governor 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.

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.

Starting July 30, 2010 the 2010-2011 LLCP Grant Application and instructions are available at
http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/llcp

Applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on September 16, 2010.

For more information on the Legacy Land Conservation Program, please visit
http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/llcp or call (808) 586-0921.

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30 second news in brief: State and county agencies, and non-profit land conservation organizations may now apply for grants from the State Land Conservation Fund to acquire lands for resource protection. Funding can be used for conservation of watersheds; coastal areas, beaches, and ocean access; habitat protection; cultural and historic sites and much more. For information, contact the Legacy Land Conservation Program at 586-0921.

For more information, media may contact:

Molly Schmidt
LLCP Program Coordinator
Phone: (808) 586-0921
Molly.e.schmidt@hawaii.gov

Deborah Ward
DLNR Public information specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320