22 



Eradication of the hemlock could harm trout streams throughout 

 the Appalachians and up into New England by raising stream tem- 

 peratures and siltation loads. 



Out West, 80 to 90 percent of the white bark pine trees in Gla- 

 cier national Park and Bob Marshall Wilderness are infected with 

 white pine blister rust. The large seeds of the whitebark pine are 

 a major food source for grizzly bears and several other species of 

 wildlife of these mountain areas. 



It is difficult to know how to address problems as widespread as 

 these. The maps that I have here indicate tree species in seven 

 cases that are heavily impacted — those with the red circles are vir- 

 tually eliminated — as well as two pests, the gypsy moth and the 

 larger pine shoot beetle. 



The most efficient method, widely recognized and already rec- 

 ommended by previous panelists, is to eliminate introduction in the 

 first place. As you have noted, this task belongs primarily to 

 APHIS. Quarantines often delay rather than prevent introduction, 

 but that delay is very valuable because it defers damages, it defers 

 the costs of dealing with those damages, and it allows scientists 

 time to develop more effective controls. But, of course, that third 

 point is valid only if the scientists are working on developing con- 

 trols during that time period. 



To be more effective, APHIS must first ensure that it does not 

 weaken existing regulations on importation of nursery stock, which 

 is a very major source of introductions of exotic pests of trees that 

 I am dealing with and, of course, of other pests, including some of 

 the plants themselves. APHIS must also adopt stringent regula- 

 tions governing imports of logs and other unprocessed wood. 



In looking at its regulations, which are now out for public com- 

 ment, I believe APHIS should give greater attention to fungi and 

 other disease pathogens which appear to pose a greater threat than 

 the insects to which APHIS automatically gives its attention. 

 NRDC is also concerned about the prevalence of bark-inhabiting in- 

 sects on debarked logs, pests transported on dunnage, crates, or 

 pallets, and undeclared raw wood imports in full conteiiner loads 

 that are hardly ever opened by inspectors. 



The U.S. Forest Service also has an obligation to do more re- 

 search and mitigation efforts aimed at the forest pests that are al- 

 ready established and especially to go beyond the gypsy moth, al- 

 though the Forest Service is better on that than APHIS is. 



The Forest Service also needs to find a way to become more flexi- 

 ble. The concept of an emergency fund is important there as well 

 because the long budget process does not allow it to respond 

 promptly to newly discovered outbreaks. 



Increased funding and personnel are necessary. That is difficult 

 to say at this time, but it is true. So is improved integration with 

 other experts and concerned interests. Several States have very ac- 

 tive programs, many academic scientists are experts. A lot could be 

 done with better integration of knowledge. 



Alien pests of North American trees have caused significant 

 losses: monetary, ecological, and aesthetic. Through your leader- 

 ship, I hope that we can develop a comprehensive program which 

 could restore the health of our forests and the other ecosystems 



