ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEES TO HOLD INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING ON THREAT OF INVASIVE SPECIES

HONOLULU – January 7, 2014 – The Senate Committee on Energy and Environment, chaired by Senator Mike Gabbard, and the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, chaired by Rep. Chris Lee, will host an informational briefing on problems caused by invasive species on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in Conference Room 225 in the State Capitol.

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture’s Plant Quarantine Branch will bring examples of invasive species, such as little fire ants and strawberry guava. They will also display Brazilian scale, a biocontrol agent for invasive strawberry guava; Madagascan Fireweed Moth, a biocontrol agent for invasive fireweed; an African wasp, a biocontrol agent for the invasive Erythrina Gall Wasp which attacks wiliwili trees; and native collector urchins, a biocontrol agent for invasive algae.

Presentations will be made by:

· Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species
· Hawaii Invasive Species Council
· Department of Agriculture - Plant Quarantine Branch
· Island-based Invasive Species Committees
· Department of Land and Natural Resources - Division of Forestry & Wildlife
· Department of Land and Natural Resources - Division of Aquatic Resources
· Department of Agriculture - Plant Pest Control Branch

Here is a link to the hearing notice: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2014/hearingnotices/HEARING_ENE-EEP...

For more information, please contact Senator Gabbard's office at 586-6830.