HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A one-year ban is now in effect on all shipments of plants, gravel and other gardening materials to Molokai.

It comes after the state board of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) on Tuesday approved a community-led petition to keep the last island free from the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB).

As the CRB devastates palms and farms across the state, Molokai residents and their supporters say the ban is needed, after state efforts failed to contain the spread of the beetles.

After two hours of testimony and discussion, board members voted unanimously to prohibit shipments of any potential CRB host material to Molokai, including plants, soil, compost, wood or tree chips, and mulch.

What makes the ban historic is how wide reaching it is —

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