經過多年的努力，夏威夷歐胡島的鄉村風貌保留運動終於獲得重大成果。歐胡島北岸的Turtle Bay度假村同意了海岸邊665.8畝土地的「保育地役權協議」。
地役權協議限制開發 生態、文化資源獲保存
Turtle Bay度假村原本計畫開發這塊土地的一部分，而現在從卡胡庫角到Kawela灣的海岸，將被永遠保存下來。此保育地役權協議將永久限制土地使用，以保護歐胡島北岸生態、休閒和開放區域的特色。
保育地役權協議保留該區塊讓公眾可無償自由出入海岸，並讓公眾可進入超過5英哩的海岸登山步道，也開放了夏威夷原住民的傳統活動地區。此外，協議允許公眾從事休閒活動，同時避免都市開發活動擴大。
Turtle Bay度假村仍擁有土地所有權，但是度假村和未來的土地所有人都將受限於地役權協議。地役權協議將重建重要的海洋、土地生態以及夏威夷文化資源，也將深化該土地的休閒與教育用途。
政府、居民、觀光客都支持
協議總值高達4850萬美元；其中4千萬由州政府補助，5百萬由市政府補助，350萬由公有土地信託組織補助。州政府和市政府提供的資金仍需經議會同意。為了讓計畫成功，夏威夷居民正努力遊說選區議員核准地役權的資金。
檀香山市長Kirk Caldwell說，「我們很高興能成為自然資源的守護者，確保民眾能永遠享受到卡胡庫角到Kawela灣間的海岸。我們的任務尚未完成，但我們已看到出口。」
公有土地信託夏威夷群島國家主任Lea Hong說，「這份歷史性的保育協議，受到公有土地信託組織、北岸社群土地信託組織和許多其他社群團體、北岸及全島居民，甚至是喜愛這片土地的觀光客的支持。」
Oahu’s “Keep the Country Country” movement has won a big victory after years of campaigning. Agreement has been reached to establish a conservation easement on 665.8 acres of coastal land at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore.
The Turtle Bay Resort had planned to develop parts of this land, but the coastal stretch from Kahuku Point to Kawela Bay will now be protected forever.
The agreement preserves open space and providing public access to beaches in the area at no charge. It also allows public access to more than five miles of coastal hiking trails and opens up the area for traditional native Hawaiian cultural practices. In addition, the agreement keeps recreational use available to the public and prevents the sprawl of urban development in the area.
The conservation easement placed upon the land will permanently limit use of the land to protect the ecological, recreational and open space characteristics of Oahu’s North Shore.
Turtle Bay Resort will continue to own, use and hold title to the land, but the resort and future owners of the land will be bound by the restrictions. The easement will allow restoration of critical marine and land ecosystems and Hawaiian cultural resources. It will foster and enable recreational and educational uses of the land.
The total value of the agreement is $48.5 million; $40 million will be provided by the state, $5 million will be provided by the city, and $3.5 million will be provided by The Trust for Public Land.
The funds provided by the state and the city are subject to appropriation and release of the funds by the Legislature. The Keep the Country Country movement is now asking Hawaii residents to lobby their elected representatives to approve the funding for this easement.
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said, “We are excited to be a part of the stewardship to protect these natural resources and to secure forever the public’s access to that entire shoreline from Kawela Bay to Kahuku Point. … The work is not yet complete, but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Trust for Public Land Hawaiian Islands State Director Lea Hong said, “This historic conservation agreement is supported by The Trust for Public Land, The North Shore Community Land Trust and many community organizations, residents of the North Shore and people from all over our island, along with visitors who enjoy and treasure the area.”
※ 全文及圖片詳見：ENS
※ 本文與 行政院農業委員會 林務局 
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
