Free Republic

<p>A draft analysis of the economic impact of designating areas of Maui and Kaho'olawe as critical habitat for rare plants estimates the cost at between $310,000 and $2 million over a 10-year period.</p> <p>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed setting aside 126,500 acres on Maui and 19,000 acres on Ka-ho'olawe to protect 61 plant species. Fifty-three percent of the land is state-owned, 45 percent privately owned and a small portion is part of Haleakala National Park.</p>