HONOLULU ?EUR??,,????'??? The Hawaii Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects recently gave the Malama ?EUR??,,????'??Aina Award for contribution to Landscape Architecture and education to Mike Buck and Teresa Trueman Madriaga. Both are members of the DLNR Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program. The Hawaii Chapter is working with DLNR on managing Invasive Species and sponsoring a school program on developing Urban Forestry called ?EUR??,,????'??Schools Make a Difference?EUR??,,????'?? Grant. There are currently four schools in Hawaii participating in the program and one school has obtained the grant. Buck said that invasive species pose not only the biggest environmental problems for Hawaii, but the biggest economic problems as well. Some estimate the cost of invasive species to North America at $137 billion annually. He laid out a five-point invasive species program that includes prevention; early detection and rapid response; control; enforcement; and public education and awareness. Buck added that Hawaii receives about 100 new plants and 20 species of insects a year. These add to the 10,000 introduced plants already in Hawaii. Most come in through the landscape and tree industries he said. Between 1971 and 1989, cargo increased 120 percent while the number of state inspectors grew by just 15 percent. ?EUR??,,????'??What it comes down to is the environment should no longer be a fringe issue in Hawaii,?EUR??,,????'?? Buck said. ?EUR??,,????'??If it remains that way, it will be very hard to protect the quality of life we enjoy in Hawaii now. It will take leadership at the top and the political will to turn around a difficult situation.