URGING THE STATE TO CONSIDER THE IMPORTANCE OF RANGELANDS AND PASTORALISTS AND ADOPT POLICIES THAT FURTHER SUSTAIN RANGELAND HEALTH AND PASTORALIST LIVELIHOODS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the State of Hawaii to recognize the importance of rangelands and pastoralists, particularly during the UN-designated International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in 2026. The bill does not create new laws or funding but instead requests that state agencies, the University of Hawaii, and local organizations promote education and research on rangeland management while considering policies that support rancher livelihoods. It highlights that over 1 million acres of Hawaii's land are classified as rangelands, which support livestock production valued at over $50 million annually and provide ecological benefits like water conservation and carbon storage. The resolution formally asks the state to acknowledge the cultural and economic significance of ranching traditions and to encourage collaborative efforts to sustain these lands and the communities that depend on them.