92 



In order to si^ificantly improve our country's management of harmful non-indig- 

 enous species, State and Federal agencies must coordinate their actions and develop 

 innovative solutions. The need for cooperation is particularly acute in Hawaii, where 

 alien species pose the number one threat to the survival of the State's federally list- 

 ed endangered species. 



For example, a multi-agency task force in Hawaii (U.S. Fish and Wildlife, U.S. 

 Postal Service and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture) has been working for the 

 past year to implement Senator Akaka's Alien Species Prevention and Control Act — 

 specifically, the provisions of that Act that call for a trial inspection program for Ha- 

 waii-bound mail parcels (pests arriving through the mail account for 20 percent of 

 Hawaii's pest invasion problem). Although everyone involved is committed to solving 

 the problern, jurisdictional complications are impeding progress. The Federal and 

 State agencies should be encouraged to identify jurisdictional problems, define solu- 

 tions and work creatively to enact those solutions in an expedited manner. 



C. Appropriate More Money for Research into the Control of Existing Problems and 

 Management Activities on Federal Lands. 



6. Devote more resources for research to control non-agricultural invasive spe- 

 cies. 



Current research to control exotic species is primarily devoted to species which 

 have an agricultural impact. We would like to see more attention directed to the 

 development of management tools which address invasions in natural ecosystems. 

 Research on a variety of control technologies should be encouraged, such as 

 biocontrol or the identification of changes in land use practices which can prevent 

 or manage invasions by exotic species. 



However, non-native biological control agents must be rigorously reviewed to en- 

 sure that the agent itself does not become a problem. Existing review standards £U"e 

 inconsistent, particularly in relationship to insect releases to control other insects. 

 The review process should include a thorough assessment of the organism's impact 

 on natural Eireas. Any biological control effort should be a part of the solution not 

 a part of the problem . 



7. Provide more resources to the land management agencies to tackle invasive 

 species problems on their own land. 



The Federal land management agencies have been woefully underfunded in their 

 efforts to control exotic species. For example, the U.S. Forest Service has identified 

 weed problems on 6.5 million acres oi land. The Administration budget rec- 

 ommendation in fiscal year 1995 for Noxious Weed Control under the Forest Serv- 

 ice's Range Management Program calls for $2.82 million, a modest increase of 

 $483,000 over last year. This money will enable the Forest Service to tackle weed 

 management on only 35,500 acres of land (l/18th of the need). 



The inadequate funding at the Forest Service is an example of the problem as it 

 exists across the Federal land management agencies. The National Park Service, 

 The Bureau of Land Management and other agencies all suffer from inadequate 

 funding. In addition, field personnel need more training in the identification and 

 management of invasive species. 



Our experience shows that invasions of some non-indigenous plants start slowly 

 but without proper attention escalate quickly into significant problems. Therefore, 

 by not aggressively tackling land management problems now, the Federal lands are 

 open to explosive, more serious problems in the future. 



The Nature Conservancy views exotic species as a serious threat to the integrity 

 of biological diversity in the United States. We feel there is a need to develop a na- 

 tional policy to stop the introduction and spread of invasive species. In addition, we 

 feel the States and Federal agencies must cooperate to solve jurisdictional problems 

 and coordinate management efforts. Finally, more financial and human resources 

 must be dedicated to the research and development of control technologies as well 

 as to manage existing problems on public lands. 



The Nature Conservancy is committed to work with Congress, public agencies and 

 private interests to help solve the problem of invasive species. We are grateful that 

 the Committee is taking the time to explore policy improvements. Thank you for in- 

 viting me, as a representative of The Nature Conservancy, to testify on this impor- 

 tant topic. 



