September 21, 2005

The Honorable Robert Bennett, Chairman
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies - U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Herbert Kohl, Ranking Member
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies - U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Henry Bonilla, Chairman
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies - U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies - U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Re: Fiscal Year 2006 Appropriation for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Emerging Plant Pests

Dear Senator Bennett and Senator Kohl and Mr. Bonilla and Ms. DeLauro:

The Nature Conservancy, National Association of State Foresters and Society of American Foresters urge the Conference Committee to adopt the House figure for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) eradication and control programs targeting the emerald ash borer and the Senate figure for the Asian longhorned beetle. Both insects are highly damaging pests of trees and forests that threaten forest and amenity trees and related economic activities worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

The emerald ash borer threatens twelve species of ash across the continent, especially in the upper Midwest and Southeast. At risk are the $25 billion ash timber industry in the Northeast and street trees across the Nation valued at $20 to $40 billion. It is absolutely essential that this containment program receive adequate funding in FY2006. If the emerald ash borer spreads beyond the lower peninsula of Michigan - where it is largely contained by the Great Lakes - it will be nearly impossible to stop its spread across the continent. The House appropriation of approximately $14 million would allow for more of the urgently needed control work to be done than does the Senate's appropriation. The Senate Appropriations Committee provided just $5.9 million for emerald ash borer. We understand that Senators from Michigan, Ohio and Indiana are seeking additional funds for this program within the Agriculture appropriations bill on the Senate floor.

The Asian longhorned beetle poses an alarming threat to hardwood forests reaching from New England into Minnesota and in the West, and to the hardwood timber, maple syrup, and autumn foliage tourism industries dependent on these forests. Also at risk are street trees across the Nation valued at $600 billion. Eradication has been successful in Chicago, proving the efficacy of this approach. Funding at the Senate level of almost $24 million will allow continued progress in eradicating the outbreaks in New York and northern New Jersey and initiation of necessary work to counter the recently discovered outbreak in California.

Both the House and Senate bills appropriate $3 million to APHIS to contain a third damaging forest pest, the sudden oak death pathogen (also called the phytophthora leaf and stem blight pathogen). If sudden oak death does escape confinement, it threatens oaks in forests in Oregon and Washington as well as throughout the Appalachians, Ozarks, and even into southern New England. This disease is also a major threat to the nation's nursery industry as it readily attacks species such as rhododendron and other species used in the garden nursery business. Spread of Sudden oak death is thus of enormous consequence to both native forests and the garden nursery business. In its impact on the oak species, it has the potential to devastate critical forage for many wildlife species as well.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's management plans targeting the Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer, and sudden oak death were developed by scientific experts. These plans demonstrate the need for more aggressive eradication and containment programs that would cost significantly more than the funding levels contained in either the House or Senate bill. We strongly support the Congress' statements urging the Administration to release emergency funds sufficient to enable full implementation of these management plans. Action now at the funding level needed would help ensure that these forest pests do not reach populations so large as to threaten forest, amenity trees, garden nursery stock, and related economic activities worth hundreds of billions of dollars. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to communicate with Tom Cassidy, Director of Federal Programs for the Conservancy at 703-841-4527.

Jimmie Powell
Director of Government Relations
The Nature Conservancy

Pat McElroy
President
National Association of State Foresters

Michael T. Goergen Jr.
Executive Vice-President and CEO
Society of American Foresters