REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO COLLABORATE TO ESTABLISH A FORMAL, LONG-TERM COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM TO EXPAND, EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTE, AND SUSTAIN TREE-CANOPY COVERAGE ACROSS PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATE WIDE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Education to work together on a permanent program to increase tree coverage at public schools across the state. The bill aims to address rising temperatures that affect student health and learning, particularly in lower-income communities where tree coverage is currently lower. It requests the creation of staff positions to manage the program, which will focus on planting, maintaining trees, and selecting species that provide long-term benefits for climate, health, and education.