HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The deadline for over $400,000 in grants from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to combat invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles is quickly approaching.
Submit an application for your neighborhood nonprofit organization by noon on June 7 to be considered for this opportunity.
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is offering two grant types to fight the continued spread of the beetle. Half of the total pot will be going to at least eight nonprofits on Oahu.
The other $200,000 will be spread amongst five nonprofits on Kauai, Maui, Oahu and Hawaii Island (one per island) to properly manage green waste — common plant composting that is the breeding ground for the species.
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“It takes all of us to protect Hawaii, and we want to encourage our communities to get involved and help us manage this extremely challenging problem,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. “We are looking for innovative, grassroots projects that could serve as models for other neighborhoods.”
Applicants of the program funding must be a registered nonprofit with the state of Hawaii, with priority going to organizations that have already expressed concern with the beetle in public settings within the last year.
The invasive species was first detected in Hawaii over a decade ago. It has since been harming palm tree growth at a gradual rate.
The deadline to submit proposals for either grant is June 7. Click here for more information.
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