Feds visit, launch attack on invasive species  

 

(Note: Language deception, including emotion-arousing but nebulous phrases such as I have "bolded" below. Please be aware that noxious species -- that is, native but aggressive species, such as poison ivy -- are not mentioned. Rather, the public psyche is directed toward words and phrases that 'strike fear' and suggest that a 'nationwide' -- actually, a global -- 'management strategy' is what the citizenry need and must have in order to deal with this 'growing threat'. Control is not protection. It is very important that you study the scope of this -- how 'forest 'management' is made interdependent upon 'fire regimes' and 'capacity building' -- and how it is global in its reach and intent. Employees of the U.S. Forest Service are globetrotting and reinventing government at the highest levels, using consensus -- conned senses -- and language deception to implement global policy that wipes its feet on America's Constitution and Bill of Rights.) 

 

November 1, 2004 

From Bend.com news sources 

Bend Bulletin 

Bend, Oregon 

To submit a Letter to the Editor: bulletin@bendbulletin.com 

Prineville, Oregon -October 28, 2004 - The U.S. Forest Service chose the town of Prineville Thursday to unveil a national effort to prevent and control the growing threat of invasive species and non-native plants spreading quickly across the country. 

The step is part of the president's Healthy Forests Initiative to restore forest and rangeland health and protect communities from wildland fire and supports his executive order promoting cooperative conservation

"Millions of acres of public and private lands are at risk from non-native species," said Mark Rey, Department of Agriculture undersecretary for natural resources and environment. "Each year, the United States loses 1.7 million acres to the spread of these invasives, in addition to spending billions of dollars on control measures." 

Prineville was picked for the announcement because it's the site of the Forest Service's new threat assessment center, slated to open early next year, which will develop user-friendly technology and cutting-edge research on invasive species. 

"This national strategy will help to prevent, find and contain the spread while working to rehabilitate and restore ecosystems," Rey said. 

It was the second Central Oregon visit in 16 days for Rey, who also joined other Bush administration officials at an event in the forest [located] west of Bend to mark the 1-year anniversary of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. http://www.bend.com/AR-18635 

On Thursday, Rey visited the Ochoco National forest to tour two sites in the Mill Creek drainage. One was the largest knapweed infestation site on the forest, while the other is being invaded by bark beetles. 

The National Strategy and Implementation Plan for Invasive Species Management http://www.fs.fed.us/biology/resources/pubs/issuepapers/issuepaper_invasives

pecies_update_9_04_.pdf [see below article for full text of this 1-page .pdf file] focuses on four key elements: preventing invasive species before they arrive; finding new infestations before they spread and become established; containing and reducing existing infestations; and rehabilitating and restoring native habitats and ecosystems. 

The plan will use one of the new tools developed under the Healthy Forests Initiative -- an early warning system to help land managers detect new invasives. 

Title VI of the 2004 Healthy Forests Restoration Act called for the Forest Service to develop such a system to improve its detection and response abilities to ecological disturbances across the nation.

 

 

Crook County official seeks more aid 

The Forest Service is establishing two environmental threat assessment centers to cover both the eastern and western United States; the western center is located here in Prineville. 

The cornerstone of the strategy is cooperative conservation: working with public and private organizations though partnerships. For example, the Forest Service recently signed an agreement with The American Chestnut Foundation to restore the beloved American chestnut tree, which was once one of the dominant tree species in the eastern U.S. forests 

"We are not keeping up with the problem, and additional federal resources would be most welcome." - Scott Cooper, Crook County judge. 

An estimated 70 million acres of public and private lands are at serious risk from 26 different insects and diseases nationwide, most of which are non-native. 

An invasive species is defined as a species that is non-native to the ecosystem under consideration, and whose introduction causes, or is likely to cause, economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. 

They take advantage of their new surroundings to crowd out or kill off native species, destroying habitat for native wildlife. They can also cause significant tree mortality creating an increased risk of catastrophic wildfire to communities. 

Crook County Judge Scott Cooper, among the local officials on hand for the tour and announcement, said the county was excited about the plans for the Western Wildfire Environmental Threat Assessment Center. 

“The addition of six to eight top-flight scientists dedicated to protecting forest health in the West will benefit citizens of our community, of our state and of the nation,” Cooper said. “The history of Prineville and Crook County is entwined with the health of natural resources. This seems like a fitting place to carry on that tradition.” 

Many Central Oregonians are unaware of the threat posed by the often-pretty weeds growing along their roads and in their fields, the county official said 

“Noxious weeds is a matter of concern to all citizens, whether they realize it or not,” he said. “We are not keeping up with the problem, and additional federal resources would be most welcome. At this point, eradication is out of the question, but control and maintenance is still within our grasp -- provided we receive the necessary support. The administration’s interest in this critically important natural resource management issue is very timely.” 

Cooper said he understands the administration plans to back a bill offered by Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, to provide some ongoing weed-control funding. 

The Forest Service's Forest Health Protection and Research and Development programs work to minimize the spread of established invasive species and lessening the damages caused by native and non-native insects, pathogens and plants. By working with other federal, state and private organizations, the agency protects and improves America's forests using cutting-edge technology to rapidly respond to forest health threats. 

To learn more about the Forest Service's National Strategy and Implementation Plan for Invasive Species Management, visit www.fs.fed.us 

For more information, visit www.invasivespecies.gov the gateway to Federal efforts concerning invasive species. 

Reference Code: AR-19059 

http://www.bend.com/news/ar_view%5E3Far_id%5E3D19059.htm

 

Additional researched information

Global Issues: An Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State

April 2002

Volume 7, Number 1

Achieving Sustainable Development

43-page .pdf file (very important reading)

http://www.4uth.gov.ua/usa/english/journals/itgic/0402/ijge/ijge0402.pdf

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USDA Forest Service Update - SUBJECT: Invasive Species Program

September 2004

 

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service has raised its emphasis on addressing the invasive species problem across all landscapes and ownerships and has recently completed an aggressive National Strategy and Implementation Plan for Invasive Species Management.

This document will be released by early August 2004 and will guide Forest Service invasive species management, partnership, and research operations and activities nationwide.

BACKGROUND: Invasive plants, insects, mammals, fish, pathogens, other terrestrial and aquatic invasive species, pose a long-term threat to the health and productivity of the Nation’s natural and managed ecosystems, degrading fish and wildlife habitat, impacting threatened and endangered species, reducing the sustainable production of natural resource-based goods and services, and increasing the susceptibility of ecosystems to other disturbances such as fire and flood. Economic impacts of invasive species in the United States have been estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually.

To address this increasing threat to our native ecosystems, the economy, and human health, the USDA Forest Service National Strategy and Implementation Plan for Invasive Species Management will guide work within 4 program elements: 1) Prevention, 2) Early Detection and Rapid Response, 3) Control and Management, and 4) Restoration and Rehabilitation. The long-term vision for the invasive species program is to interrupt the increasing trend, and begin to reduce the impacts and spread of invasive species across the National Forest System and other public and private lands and waters using a number of integrated techniques. USDA Forest Service Invasive Species Program activities will target invasive plants (including noxious weeds), invasive vertebrates, invasive invertebrates, and invasive pathogens in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems throughout the country in partnership with other federal agencies, the States, Tribes, and other local government and private organizations and stakeholders.

Current Forest Service activities against invasive species range widely and include programs to address invasive plants, insects, pathogens crustaceans, snails, mammals, fishes, earthworms, amphibians, and other insidious invaders. The increasing number of high risk species such as Asian Long-horned Beetle, Emerald Ash Borer, Sudden Oak Death pathogen, plants such as Yellow-starthistle, and a host of other aquatic and terrestrial species are examples of why we need stronger preventative, and early detection and rapid response, efforts. The Forest Service is expanding its partnership activities to work in multiple jurisdictions and address problems in a holistic, ecosystem-based manner across the landscape. A key component of these efforts is stronger partnerships between fish and wildlife management organizations and agencies as well as with volunteer organizations and the corporate sector. In addition, the Forest Service will be planning a national invasive species conference in the future and will invite its many partners to help raise the awareness and increase action against the invasive species threat.

CONTACT: Mike Ielmini, National Invasive Species Program Manager, mielmini@fs.fed.us or 202-205-1049. 

http://www.fs.fed.us/biology/resources/pubs/issuepapers/issuepaper_

invasivespecies_update_9_04_.pdf

 

 

Extensive language deception links page

NBSAP (The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (UNDP/GEF/NBSAP) 

http://www.biodiversity.ir/english/links/b0012.htm 

A search at Google.com for "NBSAP" "English pages" garnered 6,040 results. 

A more detailed search at Google.com for "fs.fed.us" and "NBSAP" garnered the following eleven results (in English): 

NBSAP Links
... International Programs News - http://www.fs.fed.us/global/news/ A look at the particular
susceptibility of Pacific Island ecosystems to invasive species. Top. ...
www.biodiversity.ir/english/links/b0012.htm - 90k - Cached - Similar pages

[PDF] "Southern Pine Beetle Claus"- in Belize aeft)and
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
... State University, E. Lansing, _ Michigan 48823; Email: rhaack@fs.fed.us map.eXtent ...
of Natural Resources, Forest Drive,Belmopan,Belize; Email: nbsap@btl.net ...
http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/jrnl/2000/nc_2000_Haack_004.pdf - Similar pages

[PDF] CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY SECRETARIAT
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
... Protected areas Elements PE1/G3/O3/all Every NBSAP should include appropriate ... 11 USDA Forest Service, Research and Development E-mail: jparrotta@fs.fed.us
http://www.biodiv.org/doc/notifications/2002/ntf-2002-034-for-en.pdf - Similar pages

[PDF] CBD CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
Page 1. /… For reasons of economy, this document is printed in a limited
number. Delegates are kindly requested to bring their ...
http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meetings/biodiv/gbc-01/official/gbc-

01-06-cop-07-inf-22-pdf-en.asp - Similar pages
[ More results from www.biodiv.org ]

[PDF] CBNRM Net: India, RUPFOR, INFORM, vol 2 no 1 (April-June 2002)
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat
... For further details, see www.recoftc.org/forgov.html We have profiled India’s National
Biodiversity Action Plan (NBSAP) process in our Profile section. ...
http://www.cbnrm.net/pdf/rupfor_001_inform22.pdf - Similar pages

[PDF] First international conference on Mountain Biodiversity 7.-10. ... File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML ... My paper will examine NBSAP of selected mountainous countries to answer the ... Research Station, Olympia WA, USA, *: mraphael/r6pnw_olympia@fs.fed.us "Status and ...
http://www.unibas.ch/gmba/GMBA_abstracts.pdf - Similar pages

[PDF] Integration of Biodiversity Concerns in Climate Change Mitigation ... File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML ... Quality Indicator LADA Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands LULUCF Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry MA Marrakesh Accords NBSAP National Biodiversity ... http://www.umweltbundesamt.org/fpdf-l/2793.pdf - Similar pages

[PDF] Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft ... File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML ... 808-933-8121 Fax: 808-933-8120 Email: jdenslow/psw_ipif@fs.fed.us Lucius G ... net or jim_space@rocketmail.com Vanuatu Donna Kalfatak, NBSAP Project Coordinator ...
http://www.issg.org/database/reference/Invasive_strategy_and_species.pdf - Similar pages

[PDF] Tourism Synthesis File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML ... by the Parties to the CBD for strengthening national capacity to prepare and implement National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP) in compliance ...
http://www.unep.org/bpsp/Forestry%20Guide.pdf - Similar pages

[XLS] Blad1 File Format: Microsoft Excel 2000 - View as HTML ... 131, 2. Forestry. Sequoia. Boole Tree. http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/heritage/095.HTM 132, 2. Forestry. Sequoia. Redwood National Park Redwood Trees. ...
http://132.229.93.11/courses/EconBot_Net_References2004.xls - Similar pages

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The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (UNDP/GEF/NBSAP)

Home>NBSAP http://www.biodiversity.ir/en_page02.htm

Introduction   http://www.biodiversity.ir/english/introduction.htm            

Steering Committee http://www.biodiversity.ir/english/scommittee.htm    

Persian Site http://www.irandoe.org/nbsap

NBSAP http://www.irandoe.org/nbsap

The Enabling Activity Project Known as “The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan” (NBSAP), is running since December 1998 in collaboration with United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and World Conservation Union (ICUN) and on the basis of the obligations restored due to the joining of Islamic Republic of Iran to the Convention of Biological Diversity. The Project has a credit of 350 thousand US dollars and according to the approved text, it is currently in its final stage. The initiation phase is already finished, and the foretold activities for identification of the natural resources of the country has led to the preparation of a series of 28 reports. These reports, prepared through consultations with national and international consultants, and each assessed by special questionnaires distributed among the members of the Steering Committee, are as follows:

  1. Intersectroal social, political and economical issue in assessment of biodiversity and the institutional potential.
  2. Use of Land and water resources in Agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
  3. Ecosystem, species and genetic diversity.
  4. Threats and root causes of loss of biodiversity, role of indigenous knowledge and religious beliefs and their use, together with current technologies and conservation projects.
  5. Study of sensitive ecosystems.

Interim report, Country status and Proposed strategies.

Besides preparation of the conservation strategy drafts and “The Country Report” in English were completed. During the second half of the year 2000, these draft reports were submitted to scientific institutes and specialization research organizations for correction and justification.

It is necessary to point out that in the project reports, the proposed strategies emphasize the creation of systematic link between the project findings and the planning bodies of the country, and specially inclusion of the strategies in the Third Five-Year Development Plan (2000-2004), with the aim to place the biodiversity conservation mechanisms and the National Action Plan, which are seriously taken into consideration in explaining the strategies.

According to the approval of both the steering Committee in 7 February 2001 and the National Committee on Sustainable Development in 15 May 2001; the four strategies are ratified as follows:

  1. Promotion of the public awareness and participation
  2. Formation of biodiversity information systems
  3. Sustainable use of biodiversity resources
  4. Integrated conservation of biodiversity

Also, in order to enable and create the bed for the best use of human resources and technical expertise in Iran, several measures are taken for strengthening the information exchange possibilities and scientific resources needed by the researchers and experts on several fields of biodiversity, e.g. purchasing books and scientific and technical resources from local or international publishers, translation, compilation of technical texts, and this process is still going on. Up to now, five books, two CD-ROMs, and a brochure were published and two other books are under print.

During this period, the following workshops were held:

  • Initiation workshop, 6 February 1999, Tehran.
  • Three-day consultation/technical workshop on marine biodiversity, 13th to 15th May 1999, Bandar Abbas, with the aim at collecting information on the latest issue of the marine biodiversity in coastal provinces in north and south of the country.
  • Workshop and conference on paleontology and biodiversity, 25th to 28th May 1999, Kerman, aimed at presenting scientific papers on biodiversity issues in desert biomes by researchers and experts.
  • Consultation workshop on conservation of forest ecosystems, 1 June 1999, Chalus, with the aim to get familiar with the most important issue in the Caspian forests, and exchange of information between environment and forest experts about the forest management problems, with a focus on conservation of biodiversity in the mentioned areas.
  • Soil conservation workshop, 28 June 1999, Tehran, with the aim to familiarize the DoE experts with the most recent techniques of soil modeling, analyzing and conservation.
  • Workshop on biodiversity in desert and arid biomes, 18 August 1999, Mashhad, with the aim to assess the result of researches on the biodiversity of the desert areas.
  • Arasbaran Workshop, with the aim to propose a medium size project to GEF, May 2000, Tabriz.
  • Workshop on conservation issues of Urmia Lake, with the aim to propose a medium size project to GEF, June 2000, Tehran.
  • Two day workshop on the strategies proposed by the project, 4th and 5th July 2000, Tehran.
  • Workshop on biosafty protocol, July 2000, Tehran.
  • Consultation/training workshop on sustainable use of biodiversity resources, 22nd and 23rd February 2001, Shiraz, with the aim to study the proposed actions of the third strategy of the project.
  • Workshop on biodiversity in dry ecosystems, 2nd March 2001, Tehran.
  • Workshop on conservation of Zagros mountains, with the aim to develop a GEF/PDF (B) draft, May 2001, Karaj.
  • Workshop on Taxonomy, 12th June 2001, Tehran.
  • Project design workshop, in collaboration with UNOPS, July 2001, Tehran.
  • NAP, August 2001, Tehran.
  • Seminar on Taxonomy & biodiversity, 18th and 19th June 2002, Karaj.

    The following programs are under consideration by the Steering Committee:

  • Completion of the proposed National Action Plan.
  • Strengthening the projects Internet website http://www.biodiversity.ir
  • Holding a few workshops with the aim to study the proposed strategies of the project.
  • Completion of the conservation of Zagros mountainous biomes project, for being proposed to UNDP/GEF.
  • Publication of the books and pamphlets prepared for public awareness and educational campaign.
  • Financially, it is predicted that by the end of September 2001 all of the main projects budget will be absorbed inside the framework of project document.

http://www.biodiversity.ir/english/nbsap.htm

 

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Acronyms you may find helpful: 

AHTEG – Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (UN) 

CBD - Convention on Biological Diversity (UN) 

COP - Conference Of the Parties (UN) 

DOC - Department Of Conservation (UN - New Zealand) 

IABIN - The Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network http://www.iabin.net and

http://www.iabin.net/binary_docs/tors/sub-regional/subregion5_phase2

_5year_plan_eng.pdf 

ITTC - The International Tropical Timber Council 

IUFRO - The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (UN) 

NBSAP - The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (UNDP/GEF/NBSAP) 

SBSTTA - The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (UN) 

Source: http://www.biodiv.org/doc/notifications/2002/ntf-2002-034-for-en.pdf

 

Definitions you may find helpful:

 

Capacity Building - " ... use the term capacity building to mean three things: human resources development, organizational development, and institutional innovation...." "... capacity building is a more complex theme than is usually portrayed ..." "... the systems of governance must be strengthened for societies to function effectively...." "...capacity building ... is developing a formal education process..." Source: Page 18  http://www.4uth.gov.ua/usa/english/journals/itgic/0402/ijge/ijge0402.pdf "Agenda 21, the core agreement that emerged from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, emphasizes the importance of capacity building for sustainable development." Source: Page 24 http://www.4uth.gov.ua/usa/english/journals/itgic/0402/ijge/ijge0402.pdf

Finding a common language. Source: http://www.forrex.org/publications/Filereports/fr99-6.pdf

Capacity Building is also referenced in this .pdf file called the "Partnership Guide" http://www.natlforests.org/pdf/nff_partnership_guidebook_hi.pdf -- which is apparently geared toward younger readers -- and many, many more related to the Forest Service and language deception.

 

From the Convention on Biodiversity Secretariat (excerpted from pages 8-11):

Program Element 1. Goal 2. Objective 1 – Activity (b); Objective 2 – Activity (a); Objective 4 – Activity (b); Objective 5 – Activity (a); Objective 6 – Activity (d). Goal 3. Objective 1 – Activity (c).

2. Using criteria very similar to those proposed by the Secretariat in UNEP/CBD/COP/6/17/Add.1 (para. 18), I have used a priority rating system (0 to 3) to evaluate the specific activities in the expanded work programme. Items receiving higher rating are viewed as those likely to make a significant positive impact on the problems being addressed at the national, subnational and, most importantly, local levels.

Many items receiving lower ratings (0-1) were in most cases not seen as unimportant but rather activities that could be performed at the international and national level by international and local experts through mechanisms discussed above and therefore done cheaply and not requiring significant international funding support.

3. Prioritization: Although COP 6 should consider the full proposed work programme, clearly some prioritization is needed, particularly for Activities requiring international support. The stratification of priorities into national and international categories would be very useful. In our view the following areas of work are considered to be of the highest priority: (rated 2-3).

Activities with highest priority (ratings 2-3): Element 1: Objective Activities. G1 – Application of ecosystem approach 1 e, g-i; G2 – Reduce threatening processes and factors…. 4 d-h; 6 b-c. G3 – Protect, recover and restore FBD 1 a=b. 3 all (a-f). G4 – Promote sustainable use 1 all (a-h). 2 all (a-d). 3 all (a-f). 4 all (a-h). Element 2: G1 – Enhance institutional enabling environment. 1 c. 2 all (a-i); 3 all (a-h); 4 all (a-f). G2 – Address socioeconomic failures 1 all (a-i); G3 – Public education, participation 1 all (a-g). Element 3. G4 – improve infrastructure for data and information management. 1 a. 1. Implementation: in the document describing the “who”, “when”, “Performance measures” and “timeframe”, IUFRO is included as an “actor” in a number of activities. We welcome the opportunity to contribute our skills and knowledge towards accomplishing the objectives of these activities at the international, regional and national levels. IUFRO’s existing networks of scientists and member institutions are presently focused on many of these activities – we are also in a good position to recommend individual scientists from IUFRO member organizations (research institutes, university forest science departments, international research and development organizations…) to assist countries in carrying out their work on CBD priority areas. Thank you for this opportunity to comment on behalf of IUFRO – if you need further information, input or clarification please let me know. - Dr. John Parrotta, Coordinator – IUFRO Division 1; National Program Leader, International Science Issues; USDA Forest Service, Research and Development. E-mail: jparrotta@fs.fed.us

Source: http://www.biodiv.org/doc/notifications/2002/ntf-2002-034-for-en.pdf