March 26, 2003

By Jim Beers

jimbeers7@earthlink.net

The Endangered Species Act, which has expanded beyond the wildest imaginings of all Americans, contained the fodder for all of it's trouble-making in one loosely worded Act. The creation of new and limitless Federal authorities to flounder about under the expensive rubric of restoring something called the Pre-Columbian Ecosystem is being done differently. A scattered approach is being implemented that allows for maximum bragging by all the Senator Claghorns and Congressmen Blowhards that introduce them and vote for their high purposes.

There are currently 14 bills before Congress purporting to directly address "Invasive Species" eradication and control. There are 35 other bills addressing everything from Captive Wildlife, Farmers, Salmon, and Wilderness to Refuges, Wildfire, Indian Land Exchanges, and Coastal Zone Renewable Energy Promotion that mention Invasive Species as a problem and the Federal government as the answer. Where the repugnant abuses of the Endangered Species Act were spawned by one bullet, Federalizing a role to regain Pre-Columbian Ecosystems through declaration of a National program to eradicate whatever is not Pre-Columbian is being spawned by an Invasive Species shotgun firing an abundance of shot.

Each of these bills refer to things like the "unquestioned" need to restore an environment free of any plants or animals that did not occur in what is now the United States before 1492 AD. Each bill, in it's own way, says that it is the role of the Federal government to "provide for restoration of native species." Each mentions, in it's own way, the need for more money and "authority" to accomplish this task. It is these phrases and inferences that the environmental and animal rights radical attorneys will later take into court to erase yet another state jurisdiction over either an area, a collection of human activities, or a particular group of plants or animals. It is these phrases and inferences that the Federal agency regulation writers will discuss "telephonically" with "partners" when writing implementing regulations that will be used to take property, eliminate both commercial and recreational activities, and will later be quoted by unscrupulous attorneys in lawsuits. The simple truth is that there is already sufficient Federal authority to do these things without "more authority." The Federal government could choose to do more research and regulate the entry and exit of plants and animals under existing authority. The states can address problem species as they see fit and we will be far better off than what is being perpetrated today.

There is a parallel stampede by the Federal agencies to capitalize on and profit from these developments. Just recently, The US Geological Survey gave wide publicity to a study purporting to show that sport fish and bullfrogs "native" to the eastern US are "helping each other" to disrupt the west coast ecosystem. The implications implied are catastrophic and purport to suggest that even species transferred within the continent are dangerous. (This is absolute nonsensical drivel to say the least.) The Environmental Protection Agency is offering millions in grants to create "regional-scale stressor-response models." The US Fish & Wildlife Service just published a newsletter touting The Invasive Plant Atlas of New England. The thing to note is the acceptance of the (silly) notion that native species are inherently good and non-native species are inherently bad. Like the Endangered Species propaganda (which established a tarbaby law that no one can get rid of) this plausible-sounding nonsense is leading us into an even bigger pit.

One of the best current examples of the hidden consequences of such thinking is the announcement by the Governor of Minnesota to close highway rest stops DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS. Unmentioned is the fact that Minnesota has been a leader in the mandatory requirement to use only "native species" for roadside plant cover. Unlike the superior plant covers that are better for erosion control, discourage weeds that harm farms, and do not need periodic burning; these "native" plants have another big difference. The seeds cost HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS PER POUND compared to the more efficient species that cost only a few dollars per pound. Oh, and this is probably just one more reason why Minnesota lobbies for most, if not all of these proposed Federal handout bills.

Other groups that typically buy into this false reasoning of the feasibility or desirability to reestablish Pre-Columbian Ecosystems are hiking groups and horseback riders. Such groups see imaginary bucolic scenes of tall grasses and wildlflowers (like in the Wizard of Oz) up to the bellies of buffalo peacefully chewing their cud. Little do they imagine areas where they must rinse their clothes and boots or where horses are prohibited for fear they may poop out a non-native seed as they move along.

Do not be deterred by these proposed bills and "experts" who mention the "need" for "ecologists" and an "ecosystem approach." They are adept at making you feel that you must accept what they say and that if you question what they purport to say is needed, you are not "sophisticated." The undeniable truth is that there are native and non-native species in abundance throughout the US. Most have been here for years and will always be here. Most interbreed and compete with each other as all plants and animals have done since the beginning of time. Ask yourself why it is so easy to suggest eradicating a non-native species that has been here for centuries and it is Environmental Armageddon to delay the reintroduction of a harmful native species to an area it has not inhabited for a century? A sensible and informed person should advocate that state governments manage all the plants and animals within their state for the benefit of their residents. That may involve the control or eradication of harmful species and the encouragement of others WHETHER THEY BE NATIVE OR NON-NATIVE. The Federal government role should not expand beyond the control of imports, exports, interstate commerce, and management of Federal landholdings in accord with state laws and regulations except where that interferes with national defense.

I must confess to being awed by the task before us. How to examine 50 proposed bills? How to explain to a significant number of people this complex matter and what hidden agendas are involved? How to work with or help to organize a credible and responsible response that protects our legitimate concerns? There are no discernible opponents at this time. Hearings and meetings here in Washington are lovefests between politicians, bureaucrats, certain business associations, and the ever-present interest groups that have fed for years on the Endangered Species carcasses spread across the landscape. Who can oppose stopping an "invasion" or eradicating things that weren't in the same place centuries ago? Only if the "uneducated" and "uninformed" are willing to stand up to the "experts" and the bureaucrats and the politicians and the interest groups will the politicians poised to profit from all this take notice. If the politicians pass these bills, the interest group lawyers and the "right court" will do the rest.

I will be trying to review these bills and better explain what needs to be done about them. In the meantime, it behooves all of us to mention to any state and particularly Federal lawmakers that we contact that we do not want the Federal role regarding Invasive Species to change; that we do not want Pre-Columbian Ecosystems to, in any way, become a Federal goal; and that the management of all plants and animals should remain with the government of the state in which they occur.

*A NOTE ON FUTURE ARTICLES AND DISTRIBUTION

I hope to begin writing Updates on a weekly basis for at least the next couple of months. The size of the lobbying, meetings, hearings, and legislation flooding Washington at this time is astounding. Reducing it to a comprehensible subject will take concise bites and specific topics. It is a daunting task.

Regarding distribution I must appeal to your patience. I tried to set up a free website with Blogger but have found myself unable to reenter it to edit or add to it. I am trying to set up something with Earthlink but costs are prohibitive and as you can tell, the computer skills of this pre-WWII baby are not state of the art. Also, there have been numerous requests for a place where many of my past articles and current writings, in addition to this Invasive Species series, can be obtained would be appreciated. I am trying to meet this request.

Finally, there are at least three websites that have published the Invasive Species series as well as some of my earlier writings. I commend you to them and will say that their help and support is and has been greatly appreciated.

I had the honor to work with Mr. Eugene Lapointe at a UN meeting in Nairobi two years ago. His work on behalf of sustainable use of natural resources is indicated by his website at www.iwmc.org/sustain/IWMC-Forum/JamesBeers  and should allow you to access this series.

I have never met the other two people who have websites dedicated to freedom and property rights. Like Mr. Lapointe, I am indebted to these people for their support. Mr. Henry Lamb has a website at https://secure.freedom.org t hat allows you to access current Invasive Species articles. Ms. Julie Smithson, who I first met electronically when an area of central Ohio known as Upper Darby was threatened, also has published this series and has many other things of interest on her website http://www.PropertyRightsResearch.org  that can be a valuable reference point.