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I 



trolling those exotic pests that have become estabUshed and threaten our native 

 ecosystems. 



In addition to economic losses, these exotic pests severely affect the forest eco- 

 system. Wildlife that is dependent upon a declining native species for food or habitat 

 is adversely affected. Species composition and structure of the forest change because 

 species that are immune to the exotic pest replace the susceptible species. Addi- ■ 

 tional forest changes occur because these immune species are often less adapted to 

 these sites, and, therefore, are more susceptible to native diseases, insect pests, and 

 stresses caused by normal changes in weather patterns. In some areas, the Forest 

 Service has identified this changing of species composition and the invasion of exotic 

 plants as the greatest threat to our forest and rangeland ecosystems, including our 

 wilderness areas. 



Our rangelands are being severely impacted, and it is estimated these exotic 

 plants have infested over 14 million acres of western Federal lands, where they are 

 rapidly displacing the native vegetation. Some of the most invasive species include 

 several species of thistles and knapweeds, leafy spurge, dalmatian toadflax, and St. 

 Johnswort. Without their natural checks and balances, these exotic species can free- 

 ly invade healthy ecosystems, regardless of disturbance, and once established, create 

 monocultures that severely reduce species diversity and can become impossible to 

 control with current methods. The results are severely degraded ecosystems that no 

 longer provide quality wildlife habitat, forage for both wild and domestic ungulates, 

 or quality recreational experiences. Finally, some threatened and endangered spe- 

 cies plant species are at considerable risk since they cannot compete with these ex- 

 otic plants. 



The Office of Technology Assessment, in their report "Non-Indigenous Pests," esti- 

 mates that economic losses due to invading exotic plants are several billion dollars 

 annually. A 1993 study completed by the University of North Dakota found that the 

 invasion of leafy spurge alone had a direct economic impact on grazing and 

 wildlands of $87 million. 



In Hawaii, exotic plants, such as gorse, banana poka, fireweed, and strawberry 

 guava are invading and severely damaging native forest and rangeland ecosystems. 

 They are also preventing the reclamation of those ecosystems that have been dam- 

 aged by hurricanes and past practices. 



Forest Service Programs for Non- Indigenous Plants and Animals 



The Forest Service has been an active participant in cooperative programs to pre- 

 vent and control non-indigenous plants and animals. I would like to discuss several 

 programs we have developed in cooperation with other countries and with other 

 Federal agencies. 



We are working with scientists from other coimtries to identify plants, fvmgi, in- 

 sects, and other organisms that could be pests and to reduce the risk of their entry 

 into the United States. The value of this international effort was evident when the 

 Asian Gypsy Moth was discovered in Oregon and Washington in 1991. A Forest 

 Service research scientist had cooperated with Russian scientists and also studied 

 the Asian Gypsy Moth in Russia. The information he was able to provide was valu- 

 able in the eradication efforts conducted by the Department of Agriculture's Animal 

 and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and State agencies. Our Forest Pest 

 Management staff is also working with the Russians to assist them in controlling 

 pest outbreaks around their port areas to lessen the chances of exotic pests entering 

 the United States on cargo from these ports. 



Our coordination efforts with other Federal agencies include working with APHIS 

 to develop a list of exotic pests and potential entry points into the United States. 

 We are also cooperating with APHIS by providing assessments on the risks of im- 

 porting logs and other unmanufactured wood products from Russia, Chile, and New 

 Zealand. 



In 1993, the Forest Service participated in organizing and facilitating the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture's Noxious Weed Coordination group. The group's role is to im- 

 prove communications between the Department's agencies with weed responsibil- 

 ities. The Forest Service is also a member of the team which developed the proposal 

 to establish an inter-departmental team to coordinate Federal agency efforts for nox- 

 ious weed control. Later this year, a memorandum of understanding will be signed 

 by the agencies within the Departments of Agriculture, the Interior, Defense, and 

 Transportation establishing the Federal Inter-Departmental Committee on Manage- 

 ment of Noxious and Exotic Weeds. The Forest Service will serve as a co-chair of 

 this committee. 



