Sign-On to Oppose Invasive Species Rollback
10/14/97
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Headline: Sign-On to Oppose Invasive Species Rollback
Source: Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
Western Ancient Forest Campaign
1025 Vermont Ave. NW 3rd Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
202/879-3188
202/879-3189 fax
wafcdc@igc.org
Date: 10/14/97
To: All Forest Activists
From: Jim Jontz and Faith Campbell
Date: October 14, 1997
SIGN-ON TO OPPOSE INVASIVE SPECIES ROLLBACK
Please sign the letter below opposing plans by the U.S. and other
governments to weaken protections against exotic, invasive species
which threaten our forest and other ecosystems and their native
biodiversity.
Next month, the Council of the Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO) will meet in Rome to adopt new "phytosanitary" rules that will
limit what the US and other countries can do to regulate the importation
of exotic, invasive species. These new rules will be enforceable
through the World Trade Organization, where our protections can be
challenged as "barriers to trade."
The inevitable result of the global economy will be increased threats
from pests and weeds (exotic, invasive species) arriving at our shores.
Under these circumstances, phytosanitary standards should be
strengthened. Instead, the new rules being proposed will weaken
current protections. These rules have been negotiated by our
government and others in a climate emphasizing "trade uber alles" and
without attention to the concerns of scientists, environmental groups,
the public, or even the federal land management agencies.
Already, our forests have suffered extensive damage caused by such
introduced foreign species as chestnut blight, butternut canker, and
hemlock wooly adelgid. These infestations and others have eliminated
wildlife habitat, threatened native biodiversity, caused increased use of
pesticides, and resulted in a very large economic as well as ecological
price tag.
You may know that a court-ordered ban on new imports of raw logs
and unprocessed wood materials pending completion of an new
environmental impact statement has been won through litigation by the
Western Environmental Law Center. Recently, Mike Axline of WELC
met with WAFC and other activists to plan a campaign to strengthen
safeguards against imports of raw logs and unprocessed wood products.
However, this campaign will be much tougher if we have to contend
with the new FAO phytosanitary standards. So, the first step to
strengthening protections is to stop the FAO/WTO proposal. Your
group's endorsement of the following letter can help. In addition, Rep.
Peter DeFazio is circulating a letter in the House of Representatives
expressing similar concerns; a quick call to your Representative asking
him or her to sign the DeFazio letter on invasive species would also be
great.
Invasive alien species are a major environmental problem. When all
types of invasive exotic species are considered -- including aquatic
organisms and feral mammals as well as plant pests and weeds -- they
contribute to the endangerment of 42% of the American species listed
under the ESA. Next to habitat loss, invasive species are the second
biggest threat to native biodiversity.
Please relay your willingness to sign the letter below to WAFC at
(202)879-3188, email . Of course, direct letters to
the appropriate Administration officials are also encouraged.
Thanks for your attention and help.
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The Hon. Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture
The Hon. Katie McGinty, Director, Council on Environmental Quality
The Hon. Tim Worth, Undersecretary of State
Dear Secretaries and Director:
As you know, the Council of the U.N. Food and Agriculture
Organization will meet next month to consider revisions to the
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The revised text of
the Convention will govern the types and stringency of phytosanitary
standards that party states including the U.S. may enact in order to
protect their agricultural and natural resources from damage by exotic
insects, plant diseases, and invasive plants. The proposed revisions
take on even greater importance because they will be enforceable by
sanctions under the World Trade Organization.
Analysis of the proposed changes suggests a number of severe
shortcomings. From a process standpoint, these changes were
developed without proper consultation with independent scientists or
environmental organizations, or preparation of an environmental impact
statement. From a substance standpoint, the changes represent a step
backwards from even the current inadequate safeguards. They reject
the precautionary principle, fail to address circumstances where
environmental threats may not be accompanied by any immediately
identifiable economic impacts, and ignore what scientists understand
about the difficulty of predicting the consequences of introduced
species.
We ask that you withdraw the support of the U.S. delegation for the
proposed IPPC rules, and initiate an immediate review of their flaws
with the goal of developing a new U.S. negotiating position that better
reflects scientific understanding of the process and impacts of biological
invasions. We look forward to working with you to develop new rules
which will truly protect our native ecosystems from invasions by
harmful exotic species.
Sincerely,
Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator
Western Ancient Forest Campaign
1025 Vermont Ave. NW 3rd Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
202/879-3188
202/879-3189 fax
wafcdc@igc.org