172 



The current and future demands on forest resources for multiple uses make it essen- 

 tial that a comprehensive national program on integrated pest management be devel- 

 oped and funded. The program should be designed to address exotic pests presendy 

 within the country and to prevent or minimi2e the introduction of new pests from 

 abroad. The framework for a national integrated pest management program already 

 exists under the authorizing statutes for both APHIS and the Forest Service: the . 

 Federal Plant Pest Act (7 U.S.C. §§ 150aa -ISOjj); the Organic Act (7 U.S.C §§ 147a 

 147e): the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act (16 U.S.C § 

 1642); and the Coopcrauve Forestry Assistance Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 2101, 2102, 2104). 

 (For brief summaries of these statutes' provisions, see Appendix A.) 



Prevention of Exotic Pest Introduction 



For many years, it has been recognized that the most efficient method to elimin'^te 

 exotic pest infestation is to prevent the organism from entering the country (cf. 

 Boycc 1961). The responsible agency is APHIS. APHIS has tradiuonally concentrated, 

 however, on the prevention of new agronomic and horucultural crop-related pests. As 

 discussed in the Introducuon, there are no general plant health (phyiosanitary) reg- 

 ulations that specifically govern timber imports. APHIS has relied upon a visual 

 inspection of logs at U.S. ports to detect insects and pathogens. This inspection poli- 

 cy is now antiquated with the advent of large-scale timber importations from other 

 countries. The Siberian Risk Assessment analysis clearly illustrates that visual inspec- 

 tion is insufficient for adequate protecdon against introduction of foreign pests. 



Regulatory controls intended to prevent the introduction or spread of exotic pest 

 species are not completely effective. An additional measure of protection could be a 

 quarantine. Unfortunately, APHIS is not adequately financed or staffed to manage 

 the large quarantine program that would be needed for raw wood products. Another 

 approach is to organize a defense strategy prior to introduction (Boyce 1961). We be- 

 Ue\-e that a much more aggressive prevention program is needed to increase protec- 

 tion for North American forests. APHIS should not wait until the foreign organism 

 has been introduced to begin an emergency eradication or control campaign. In- 



21 



