[EMAIL PROTECTED]
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Stephanie Hanna (O) 202/208-6416
August 30, 1995
DEPUTY SECRETARY GARAMENDI TO SEEK PARTNERSHIP AGAINST WEEDS
Interior Department joins commodity groups, academics, federal agencies, states
and environmental organizations in effort to head off biological disaster in
spread of invasive non-native weeds on western lands
Calling it "a move to forge a united front against looming biological
disaster," Deputy Secretary of the Interior John Garamendi today announced the
first conference to put together a new federal, state and private partnership
against the spread of invasive weeds.
"On federal lands alone, invasive weeds are spreading at the rate of 4,600
acres per day," Garamendi explained, "and weeds pay no attention to fencelines
or boundaries. For this reason, we are working to forge a new and powerful
partnership to come up with specific objectives and solutions."
The conference will include representatives from federal agencies,
commodity groups, academic range experts, environmental organizations and
representatives from state land commissions. This group will meet in Denver on
September 7 and 8, 1995, for a conference to be held at the Denver Hilton
South.
"We're losing the use of our lands, both public and private," said Faith
Campbell of the Exotic Plant Pest Council.
"I hope we can use the opportunity to work together to find effective ways to
combat these invaders. If not, the weeds will win."
"One of the greatest threats to public and agricultural lands in the United
States is the spread of noxious weeds. Invasive plants, such as leafy splurge
and spotted knapweed kill off surrounding vegetation, trigger soil erosion,
decrease available water, and cost agriculture millions of dollars each year,"
said Colorado rancher Tom McDonnell. "The weeds not only make the land unfit
for crops and cattle, they threaten native plant species and drive off
wildlife."
"By utilizing partnerships between public and private stakeholders, we are
hoping to reach solutions regarding invasive, non-native weeds in the United
States," said Sally McCammon, Scientific Adviser to the Administrator of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS). "APHIS can certainly contribute to the cooperative effort to combat
weeds by bringing expertise in the biological control of weeds and through
exclusion efforts at U.S. ports of entry."
The conference will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday at the to present
critical information on a serious problem: the looming biological disaster
posed by invasive, non-native weeds across large areas of the West. It will be
followed by a field trip, scheduled to leave from the hotel at 3:00 p.m. Media
are invited to attend both the opening session and the field trip, which is
expected to conclude at about 6:00 p.m. A press conference discussing the
outcome and results of the conference will conclude the session on Friday,
September 8, early in the afternoon.
The meeting is being organized cooperatively by the Intermountain Noxious
Weed Advisory Council, National Cattlemen's Association, North American Weed
Management Association, Western Society of Weed Science, Western States Land
Commissioners, Western Weed Coordinating Committee, and the U.S. Departments of
Interior and Agriculture.
Among other expected participants are representatives from the American
Sheep Industry, Public Lands Council, Colorado State Land Board, Rocky Mountain
Elk Foundation, and the Exotic Plant Pest Council. Besides Garamendi, other
federal officials expected to participate include B.J.Thornberry -Deputy Chief
of Staff of the Interior Department, David Unger - Associate Chief of the
Forest Service, Mike Dombeck - Director of the Bureau of Land Management,
Ronald Pulliam - Director of the National Biological Service, and other top
officials from the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, National Park
Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Fish & Wildlife Service, and other
agencies.
Non-native, invasive plant species -- weeds -- are overrunning vast areas
of the West, crowding out natural vegetation, dramatically altering natural
environments, and eroding the economic productivity of many land uses. Weeds
destroy habitat for elk and other animals, including key winter ranges and
birthing areas; reduce forage for livestock and wildlife; can ruin recreational
opportunities for hunting, boating, camping, and hiking; degrade the landscape
by crowding out and destroying native vegetation and contributing to soil
erosion; pollute streams; reduce land values and hurt local economies.
The meeting has been organized by a Planning Group consisting of members
from:
Intermountain Noxious Weed Advisory Council, (INWAC)
National Cattlemen's Association, (NCA)
North American Weed Management Association, (NAWMA)
Western Society of Weed Science, (WSWS)
Western State Land Commissioners, (WSLC)
Western Weed Coordinating Committee, (WWCC)
Exotic Plant Pest Council, (EPPC)
U.S. Department of Agriculture, (USDA)
U.S. Department of the Interior, (DOI)
ADDITIONAL PRESS CONTACTS:
George Beck, INWAC, (970) 491-7568
George Hittle, INWAC, (307) 777-6585
Tom Whitson, WSWS, (307)766-3113
Barbra Mullin, WWCC, (406) 444-5400
