May 22, 2003

By Jim Beers

jimbeers7@earthlink.net

There are two encouraging items to share concerning the campaigns to establish Federal Invasive Species authority.

First, I recently used the fact that Exotic Game ranchers were an example of a group who was not heard from and who was sure to be harmed by any new Federal Invasive Species authority.

I was wrong, and what I found out is worth repeating.

Charly Seale, Executive Director of the Exotic Wildlife Association and Marida Favia del Core Borromeo, Director of EWA have contacted me and told me of all they are doing.

They have met with their Federal Representatives and Senators.

They have informed their membership and spoken with friends to encourage them to oppose any Federal Invasive Species authority.

They even asked me what more they could do.

I was embarrassed that I had mentioned them as I did but absolutely delighted to see that even though there is little indication of such support on the surface here in Washington, there is grassroots opposition moving across this great land.

For your information, I made two suggestions.

First, I suggested asking state politicians to introduce (and get passed) a resolution saying that your state is opposed to any assumption of Federal authority over any plants or animals currently under the jurisdiction of your state. Such a resolution could mention legitimate Federal responsibilities such as import, export, and interstate aspects. It could also be worded to accommodate any Federal agricultural or other subsidy or grant that does not involve any jeopardy to state authorities.

Second, I suggested calling or writing Senator Craig (R-ID), Congressman Hefley (R-CO), Congressman Pombo (R-CA) and Chairman of the House Resources Committee, and Senator Inhofe (R-OK) Chairman of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee.

They should be told that you/your organization oppose S. 144 the Noxious Weed Control Act of 2003, H.R. 119 the Harmful Invasive Weed Control Act, and any new legislation that jeopardizes existing state authorities over any plants or animals. I further suggested that they either do the same or send copies to the President and the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior as well as their state representatives, Senators, and Governor.

Nothing gets politicians and bureaucrats more attentive than seeing that other decisionmakers are being confronted with serious citizen concerns [that are] based on real knowledge.

I offered any help I could provide to any state politicians or the EWA. I make the same offer to you. If you consider these things worth trying, let me know if I can help and I will do my best. The sooner we get things like this underway and also begin to get our organizations back to representing us to Washington instead of the other way around, the better. National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the National Rifle Association, the Wildlife Management Institute, Ducks Unlimited, National Trappers Association, and the Sport Fishing Institute are examples of organizations who are either acquiescing to Federal Invasive Species authority, or are silent.

Others -- like The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Federation, Wilderness Society, and the Natural Resources Defense Council -- either stand to benefit from Federal Invasive Species largesse or are fronting for more radical environmental and animal rights groups waiting to file Invasive Species lawsuits for all sorts of mischief and harm.

We need to TELL our organization, just like our politicians and state employees that we oppose Federal Invasive Species authority. Then we need to ASK them to vote, lobby, and publish articles that support solutions to any plant and animal problems utilizing the state and Federal responsibilities laid out in our Constitution.

State employees are a special concern. The state fish and wildlife agencies are your front line in these matters. They implement state policies and inform state politicians of threats to state responsibilities.

As long as they slant their reports to state government officials strictly in terms of getting more money, it is impossible for state government officials to understand what the threat is and what must be done to prevent it.

The fact that the state agencies' Washington lobby group, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies gave a tepid endorsement of Federal Invasive Species authority at recent Congressional Hearings is a disgrace to anyone familiar with and supportive of Constitutional responsibilities.

State employees and state administrators need to know that you oppose Federal Invasive Species authority and that you are speaking with their political bosses to insure that their agency opposes any new Federal authority over plants and animals at the expense of state authority.

I have just begun reading a book that you may find worthwhile.

INVASION BIOLOGY Critique of a Pseudoscience by David I. Theodoropoulos (2003 Avvar Books 15245 Broadway Street, Blythe, California 9225) is an excellent examination of all the fallacies and hidden agendas swirling in the Invasive Species propaganda that seems to be everywhere.

Anyone looking for a more in-depth analysis of ecosystem change and management will not be disappointed.

Finally, on May 21, 2003, I was interviewed by the Alabama Forest Owners Association about Invasive Species.

I spoke for about 3.5 minutes in answer to two questions.

1.) Why am I concerned about Federal Invasive Species legislation, and

2.) What do I recommend we do about Invasive Species.

I was # 7 of 8 persons interviewed on various topics of interest to Alabama Forest Landowners.

You can listen to the interview on their website, Capital Ideas Live at

http://www.alabamaforestowners.com/CILive/CI030521.htm

If you have any questions about the interview, I will be glad to answer them and if you enjoy the site, please be sure and let the Alabama Forest Owners know about it.