Here's information on the Exotic Forest Pest situation,
forwarded by Jane Clark.  I have read that the beetle attacks maples,
ash, and a number of other species.  What is the future of our forests?

PLEASE SEE THE COMMENT PERIOD BELOW:

BEETLE INVASION:  The Asian long-horned beetle is causing an
international trade dispute with China due to the threat it causes to
American forests, reports the Economist. The beetle travels to the U.S.
on wooden crates used for shipping Chinese goods and bores deep into
hardwood trees, eventually killing them.  The only way to get rid of
the beetle is by cutting down all infested trees, chopping them in a
shredder, and burning all the chips.  The beetle has already invaded
areas in Chicago and New York.  Secretary of Agriculture, Dan
Glickman, has announced that Chinese exporters will soon have to treat
all wood-packing materials with heat or chemicals.  China believes
these actions will seriously hinder trade.  However, if the beetle makes
its way into American forests, the U.S. economy could be damaged by
an estimated $140 billion dollars.

From John Walkowiak, Iowa DNR Urban Forester:
I am very familar with this situation in Chicago and New York.
A potentially serious problem - especially given the global economy of
shipping things in and out.  We do not have any reported cases in Iowa, DNR
is working with the State Entomologist, John Haanstad and with USDA Forest
Service, USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in information
and monitoring efforts.  The problems with the invasion in Chicago is that
it started 3+ years ago and many firms in Iowa get direct shipment of
materials from China - so it may be here and we don't know it yet.  The
idea of treating the shipping materials with chemicals or heat is that it
stops making these materials good sites for the beetles to reproduce -
presently shipping crates and pallets from the Far East are made with
"green" (not dried) hybrid poplar lumber (number one species that the
beetle
attacks).  The idea of treating the shipping materials is to eliminate
brooding sites - in my opinion - this action was long over due.  You might
want to read up more about this on
http://willow.ncfes.umn.edu/attack/asianbeetle_attack.htm   John W.

COMMENTS NEEDED:

Subject:       March 22 Deadline for Comments to Prevent Introduction
of                 Exotic Forest Pests and Reduce Wood Use

March 22 is the deadline for submitting your comments in response to the
Department of Agriculture's Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on
imports of crates and other wood packaging that transport insects and
other "pests" that threaten our forests.   This rule is an important
opportunity for activists to both stop the importation of dangerous
exotic pests, and help reduce the demand for wood packaging materials.

We urge all environmentalists to submit comments that urge the USDA to
take the following steps:

1) require that all countries exporting goods to the U.S. treat crates,
pallets, spools for wire, dunnage, and other forms of packaging made of
unprocessed wood in order to reduce the risk that pests will be
introduced.  Since potentially damaging pests are present in Mexican
forests, no exemption should be made for that country.  Canada could be
exempted if it adopts similarly stringent regulations.

2) ban use of "raw" or unprocessed wood in the manufacture of packaging
after a brief phase-out period.  Substituting other types of materials
for such packaging would 1) provide the greatest protection against pest
introduction; 2) reduce the use of methyl bromide, wood preservatives,
and other highly toxic chemicals which are now relied on to kill pests
"hitchhiking" in wood packaging; and 3) reduce the demand for wood
inside the U.S. and abroad.

The deadline for comment is March 22.  You should send the original and
three copies to Docket No. 98-057-1, Regulatoary Analysis and
Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD  20737-1238.  You should also send copies of your comments
to your Member of Congress and Senators.

To see the text of the USDA's Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
consult the following site on the World Wide Web:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov; click on the item "Regulations", then work
backwards to January 20.

If you would like to review and sign-on to American Lands' comments,
contact Faith Campbell at mailto:[log in to unmask] or call 202/547-9120.

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