It is important that officials responsible for phytosanitary protection, Congressional oversight committees, and stakeholders have access to key trade and pest data as well as independent analyses of them in order to evaluate programs’ effectiveness. But we don’t have such access … and existing analyses cannot be used to detect trends. My focus is on … Continue reading What is being introduced, and how? APHIS — make data public!
As we Americans import more stuff, the risk of new pest introductions rises, too. Many tree-killing insects arrive as larvae living in crates, pallets, and other forms of wood packaging. While the USDA requires that incoming wood packaging be treated to prevent pests, this regulation has not prevented pests from entering the country on wood … Continue reading Non-Native Pest Threat to Forests of the West Coast
This blog asks YOU!!! to support funding for key USDA programs. Each is essential for protecting the resilience of the Nation’s forests in the face of invasive pests. Please help by contacting your members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. I provide a list of members – by state – at the end of … Continue reading Help Ensure Best Pest-Countering Programs Possible!
As this blog has repeatedly demonstrated, new non-native forest insects continue to be intercepted at ports-of-entry, including the beetles in the highly-damaging Scolytinae group (wood borers and bark beetles) – despite implementation of international rules to stop them (ISPM#15). Inspection is not an effective preventive measure – although useful as a deterrent when combined with … Continue reading Host Tree Features as Predictors of Insect Damage
Two USDA agencies lead efforts to protect U.S. wildland, rural, and urban forests from non-native insects and disease-causing pathogens: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has legal responsibility for preventing introduction of tree-killing pests, detecting newly introduced pests, and initiating eradication and containment programs intended to minimize the damage they cause. USDA Forest … Continue reading Funding – Appropriations – Crucial to Protecting Our Forests from Pests
As happens every year, the Administration has proposed a budget for funding government programs in the next Fiscal Year (FY) – which begins on October 1, 2020 (FY2021). This proposal is not the final word. Congress will pass appropriations bills that will specify actual funding levels. NOW is the time for you to tell senators … Continue reading 2021 Funding: Crisis for USFS, OK for APHIS – Both Need Your Support
removing Miconia from Hawaiian forest; courtesy of the Nature Conservancy of Hawai`i A recent article by Wayne Dawson and 24 coauthors (see reference at the end of this blog) provides the first-ever global analysis of established alien species. They studied the diversity of established alien species belonging go eight taxonomic groups – amphibians, ants, birds, … Continue reading Invasive “hot spot” study confirms vulnerable places, causes of introductions
On May 19 I posted a blog asking you to lobby Congress in support of maintaining current funding levels for two programs aimed to eradicating or containing tree-killing pests. These are the “tree and wood pest” and “specialty crop” programs operated by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). At the time, … Continue reading Lobby House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees in support of increasing funding for two crucial APHIS programs
Non-Native Forest Insects and Diseases Since European settlement began in North America, nearly 500 non-native tree-feeding insects and disease-causing pathogens have been introduced into the United States. Despite a century of efforts to prevent introduction and spread of damaging plant pests, they continue to arrive in the U.S. and cause enormous ecological and economic damage. … Continue reading Our Current Activities