adequate resources to manage & improve plant health

hello, tree pest mavens!

The crisis in obtaining adequate resources to manage & improve plant health programs is international in scope.  It is not just our government that fails to understand the importance of preventing invasion by plant pests!

Read my blog at www.cisp.us or www.nivemnic.us and consider how we might all help to change this situation.

Faith

Innovations in Invasive Species Management Training

December 12-14^th, 2018

Gaylord Opryland Hotel
Nashville, TN

Registration is Open

We invite you to join us for the second annual Innovations in Invasive Species Management Training to be held in Nashville, TN December 12-14^th, 2018 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.  This year’s meeting will be co-hosted by the National Military Fish and Wildlife Association’s Invasive Species Working Group the Tennessee Invasive Plant Council the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council the National Association of Invasive Plant Councils, the National Invasive Species Council, and Invasive Plant Control, Inc.    

Current Agenda

Click here to view the 2018 Training Draft Agenda

Conference Website

Click here to view the 2018 Innovations Training Website

Registration

To register for the Innovations in Invasive Species Management Training and Workshop please visit Eventbrite by clicking on the following link: Click here to register for the 2018 Innovations in Invasive Species Training

 CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS Pesticide Recertification Credits and other Continuing Education Credits will be offered.

 Hotel and Conference Location

Gaylord Opryland Hotel The hotel is offering the equivalent to the prevailing state and federal per diem which is currently $170 per night.  Click here to make reservations Gaylord Opryland Hotel.    Experience the finest in Southern hospitality at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Our premier Opryland hotel offers guests an unforgettable getaway with all the excitement and energy of Music City under one spectacular roof. Located only 10 minutes from the airport and featuring an extraordinary selection of dining, shopping, recreational activities and entertainment, there’s never a shortage of things to do at our resort. After unwinding at Relâche Spa & Salon, practice your swing at Gaylord Springs Golf Links, make a splash at our indoor or outdoor pool, hit the gym at our state-of-the-art fitness center, or explore our nine acres of lush, indoor gardens and cascading waterfalls.

Call for Presentations

Call for papers for the general session is full but we are still accepting abstracts for the outdoor equipment demos or oral presentations on tools and equipment as well as abstracts for the poster session. 

We are also accepting abstracts for oral presentations pertaining to military installations

Types of proposals we are seeking:

·        Invasive Species Management on Military Installations

·        Outdoor Equipment Demonstrations

·        General Session Oral Presentations on Innovative Equipment 15 minutes in length

·        Poster Presentations

Abstracts

·        Deadline for submission of Field Demonstration and Poster Presentation Abstracts is November 5^th, 2018

General Sessions

• Oral Presentations on Innovative Tools and Equipment will be 15 minutes. Presentations will be included in a relevant general oral session, or in an organized oral session if appropriate.
• Poster Presentations will be displayed throughout the conference in the main Ballroom.   We ask that you be present during the session to present your poster and answer questions.  Posters should be no larger than 4x4 ft.
• Outdoor Equipment Demonstrations will occur on Friday December 14^th on the Opryland Grounds and at local parks in the hotel vicinity.  If you are interested in offering an equipment demonstration please contact Steven Manning

Submission Instructions

For Symposia and Organized Oral Sessions, abstracts must be submitted for each presentation.

Abstracts must be submitted electronically to Steven Manning. Your email must include the document in the format described below, with this subject line:

·        Subject: (presenter’s last name) and type of submission (i.e. organized oral session, symposium, workshop, general oral session, or general poster session)

Abstract Content and Style for Papers and Posters

Each submitted abstract must include the following.  Please carefully adhere to these guidelines: Attach your abstract in Microsoft Word, using one-inch margins and Times New Roman 10 pt. font. Single space the abstract and separate each section with a single line space. 

1. Title of Presentation
2. Author or Authors
1. Name
2. Title
3. Organization
3. Contact information
1. Email
2. Telephone
3. Address
4. Abstract (to be published in the conference program)
5. Speaker Bio

For more information please contact Steven Manning at steve@ipc.us.com

APHIS proposes to end regulations on EAB - aimed at preventing/slowing spread

hello, tree pest mavens!

As most of you probably know, APHIS has formally proposed to end its regulatory program aimed at preventing / slowing spread of the emerald ash borer.  They propose to rely on biological control to reduce impacts and -- possibly -- slow EAB's spread.  I attach the proposal. Comments are due 19 November.

I am trying to formulate my position on this proposal.  I recognize that APHIS has spent considerable effort & resources trying to prevent spread of EAB - with probably some success but overall not satisfactory (it is known to be in 31 states + District of Columbia). I am one of those people who badgers APHIS constantly about the need for it to address additional tree-killing pests, e.g., polyphagous and Kuroshio shot hole borers, spotted lanternfly, various Cerambycids that are in the country but not receiving attention, pathogens attacking ohia and other Mertaceae in Hawai`i ...

I lobby for APHIS' appropriation every year and now how hard it has been to hold funding steady (not counting inflation), much less to increase funding.

On the other hand, APHIS says EAB currently occupies 1/4 of the range of ash trees in the U..S - an even smaller proportion once one considers the ash in Canada and especially Mexico that are at risk.

The proposal lacks much of the information I want to see in order to understand whether this proposal makes sense:

1) APHIS makes no attempt to analyze the costs to states, municipalities, private entities, etc. if EAB spreads to parts of the country where it is not yet established - primarily the West coast. As a result, the "economic analysis" covers only the reduced costs to those entities which would no longer be subject to compliance agreements - and thus no longer required to carry out various treatments, etc.

2) APHIS does not discuss how it would re-allocate the $6-7 million it currently spends on EAB.  Would it all go to EAB biocontrol? Would some be allocated to other tree-killing pests that APHIS currently ignores? 

3) APHIS provides no analysis of the efficacy of biocontrol - it does not even summarize studies that have addressed past and current releases.

4) APHIS says efforts are under way to develop programs to reduce the pest spread threat from firewood movement - but does not explain what those efforts are or why they are likely to be more effective than efforts undertaken in conjunction with the Task Force that issued recommendations in (I think) 2010.

5) APHIS makes no attempt to analyze environmental impacts.

I will be trying to obtain information on these and other topics.  I ask your help!  If you have information on the ecological or economic importance of ash in the West, or the impact of biocontrol agent releases ... please point me in the right direction!

Faith

703-569-8745

P.S. APHIS also says nothing about possibly supporting efforts to breed ash trees resistant to EAB, or to expand reproduction of "wild" ash that appear to be resistant.

News Release: Public Invited to Become a First Detector and Report Invasive Species

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/WAInvasiveSpeciesCouncil/posts/2082514575205389

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/WAinvasives/status/1039247582554255360

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnjyVVqgXIA/?taken-by=wa_invasivespeciescouncil

News Release:

https://rco.wa.gov/doc_pages/press/2018/185.shtml

Justin Bush
Executive Coordinator | Washington Invasive Species Council
Washington Recreation and Conservation Office
Office: 1111 Washington ST SE | Olympia WA 98501
Mail: PO Box 40917 | Olympia WA 98504
Office: (360) 902-3088 |TDD: (360) 902-1996
justin.bush@rco.wa.gov
Report invasive species! | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Save the Date for Our Next Webinar!

"An Early Warning Mapping Tool for Forecasting Fire Risk on DoD Lands in the Arid West"

Thursday, September 13, 2018 (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET)

Wildland fire can reduce mission capabilities and pose a threat to personnel, property, and public safety. Active fires can shut down ranges and training areas, and even the potential for fire risks can limit range use or munition types. Sensitive desert ecosystems in the western U.S. are negatively impacted by non-native invasive plants, which increase fire frequency and dominate post-fire landscapes. As a result, nearly one half of all DoD lands in the U.S. are faced with the consequences of a rapidly changing fire regime, such as biodiversity loss and fragmentation of native habitats. With funding from the DoD Legacy Resource Management Program, Conservation Science Partners and Gage Cartographics developed a web mapping application that automatically updates on a weekly basis with high resolution contemporary maps of fire probability across DoD and surrounding lands in the Great Basin, Mojave, and Sonoran Desert ecosystems. This webinar will introduce interested users to the access, underlying data, and functionalities of the application.

To join the webinar, go to: https://dodnatres.adobeconnect.com/webinarseries/

Conference Number: 1-877-885-1087

Participant Code: 713-286-7186

If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting or just want to test your connection prior to the webinar, visit: https://dodnatres.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

Adobe Connect has a maximum attendance capacity of 100 users. We advise users in the same office building to attend as a group to ensure as many users can join this webinar as possible. If you are unable to join the webinar, we will post a recording on the NR Program web portal at: http://www.dodnaturalresources.net/Webinar-Series.html

Please share this information with your colleagues, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the upcoming presentation.

Save the Date for Our Next Webinar!

“Resources for Managers to Integrate Downscaled State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) Information with Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMPs)”

Thursday, September 27 at 1:00pm ET

Caitlin Jones

DoD Natural Resources Program, www.denix.osd.mil/nr/

DoDNatRes@bah.com

Twitter: @DoDNatRes

IUCN releases publication "Guidelines for invasive species planning and management on islands"

Guidelines for invasive species planning and management on islands, edited by Alan Tye, is the new library publication from the World Conservation Union (IUCN). It is available for download here: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/47764

Abstract: 

‘Invasive species’ (often called pests, weeds and diseases) are plants, animals, disease agents and other organisms taken beyond their natural range by people, deliberately or unintentionally, and which become destructive to the environment or human livelihoods. Islands are particularly vulnerable to invasive species, owing to the evolution of their native animals and plants in isolation from predators and diseases, and the dependence of island peoples on imports, travel and tourism, which lead to high rates of arrival of new pests. These Guidelines are designed to assist anyone planning and programming the management of invasive species on islands, with the aim of reducing the negative impacts of invasives on islands’ rich and fragile natural heritage, communities and livelihoods. The document provides guidance for anyone who has to find, plan and prioritise funds and resources for invasive species management and research, on islands anywhere, including for the design of national invasive species strategies and action plans. It provides support for islanders and island agencies working on invasive species, as well as guidance for international and regional agencies in providing assistance to them. A major aim is to help and guide the development of more objective, realistic and achievable invasive species plans and programmes.

Western Governors' Association Webinar Recording

At the Western Governors' Association Webinar held on Thursday, June 12, Governor Ige of Hawaii announced a new WGA Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative, and a recording of the webinar is available here. Additional related information and upcoming biodiversity and invasive species workshop information are here below:

WGA Press Release on Data Management: http://westgov.org/news/invasive-species-data-management-guidelines-released-to-improve-land-management-reporting

WGA Data Recommendations: http://westgov.org/images/editor/WGA_Invasive_Species_Data_Protocol.pdf

National Invasive Species Council Secretariat Guidance for improving access to and analysis of invasive species information:

https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/isim_guidance.pdf

Upcoming WGA Biodiversity and Invasive Species Workshops:

·       Lake Tahoe, NV, September 17-18

·       Topic: Prevention, Control, and Management of Established Species

·       Cheyenne, WY, October 11-12

·       Topic: Restoration

·       Helena, MT, November 14

·       Topic: Early Detection and Rapid Response

·       Kona Coast, HI, December 9-10

·       Topic: Biosecurity and Agriculture

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Firefighters, meet invasive species - New pocket guide released

NMFWA Invasive Species Community,

See below for link to excellent new AK firefighter invasive species management pocket guide.  Sorry for any duplication.   Let me know if you wish to be removed from this mailing list.

See:  https://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/admin/awfcg_committees/Invasives%20Task%20Group/FHP-Invasive%20Species%20Pocket%20Guide%20for%20Alaska%20Firefighters-2018.pdf

R/ Doug

Douglas A. Burkett, PhD

Environmental Biologist 🐝

Operations Division

Armed Forces Pest Management Board

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Energy, Installations and Environment) US Army Garrison Forest Glen

2460 Linden Lane, Bldg 172

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Tel: 301-295-8304

douglas.a.burkett.civ@mail.mil

Caution- http://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/afpmb/index.html

--------Orginal message --------

From: "Smith, Hilary" <hilary_smith@ios.doi.gov < Caution-mailto:hilary_smith@ios.doi.gov > >

Date: 7/13/18 7:07 AM (GMT-05:00)

Subject: [DOI Invasive Species] Firefighters, meet invasive species - New pocket guide released

DOI Invasive Species Community,

Thanks to Aaron Martin, (USFWS Aquatic Invasive Species Program Coordinator - Alaska Region), for sharing information about this new publication.

Check out the newly completed firefighter invasive species pocket guide that the USFWS (Lisa Saperstein - Regional Fire Ecologist - Alaska Region) teamed up with BLM, USDA, and the State of Alaska to create. It is focused on interior Alaska. It will be replaced with a 508 compliant version as soon as it is finished, after which it will also be on the USFS website and others.

Caution-https://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/admin/awfcg_committees/Invasives%20Task%20Group/FHP-Invasive%20Species%20Pocket%20Guide%20for%20Alaska%20Firefighters-2018.pdf < Caution-https://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/admin/awfcg_committees/Invasives%20Task%20Group/FHP-Invasive%20Species%20Pocket%20Guide%20for%20Alaska%20Firefighters-2018.pdf >

Here are several other notable links referenced in this publication for invasive species information specific to firefighting operations:

*            Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (“Redbook”). Chapter 11 focuses on Incident Management and Response, and invasive species are referenced on pages 254 – 255

              *            Caution-https://www.nifc.gov/PUBLICATIONS/redbook/2018/Chapter11.pdf < Caution-https://www.nifc.gov/PUBLICATIONS/redbook/2018/Chapter11.pdf >

                            

                            

*            Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations (National Wildfire Coordinating Group 2017)

              *            Caution-https://www.nwcg.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pms444.pdf < Caution-https://www.nwcg.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pms444.pdf >

*            Fire Management and Invasive Plants. A Handbook (USFWS 2008)

              *            Caution-https://www.fws.gov/invasives/pdfs/USFWS_FireMgtAndInvasivesPlants_A_Handbook.pdf < Caution-https://www.fws.gov/invasives/pdfs/USFWS_FireMgtAndInvasivesPlants_A_Handbook.pdf >

 <Caution-https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif>

--

Hilary Smith

Senior Advisor for Invasive Species

U.S. Department of the Interior

Office of Policy Analysis, 3522 MIB, MS-3530

1849 C Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20240

Office: 202.208.4103

Cell: 202.763.3118

Hilary_Smith@ios.doi.gov < Caution-mailto:Hilary_Smith@ios.doi.gov > 

--

Sarah Veatch

Interdepartmental Coordinator and Project Manager National Invasive Species Council (NISC) Secretariat US Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary

1849 C Street, NW | Mail Stop 3530 | Washington, DC 20240

P: (202) 208-3533 | C: (202) 689-4667

Caution-www.invasivespecies.gov < Caution-http://www.invasivespecies.gov/ > fb.com/USinvasivespecies.gov < Caution-http://fb.com/USinvasivespecies.gov >

meetup.com/invasivespecies < Caution-http://meetup.com/invasivespecies >

"We Can Do This..."