Invasive species from buildup worry experts

Invasive species from buildup worry experts

Posted: Feb 10, 2010 2:27 PM
Updated: Feb 10, 2010 6:50 PM

by Janjeera Hail

Guam - There's been a lot of talk about what's in store for Guam with the military buildup. But it's more than the human population increase we've got to worry about.

Invasive species are defined as species that are not native to an area and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. And while Guam may be a small island, miles away from different ecosystems, we are not immune to foreign pests.

USDA Assistant State Director Dan Vice knows this all too well. His work focuses on eradicating the brown tree snake, a species that first arrived on Guam after World War II, on ships from its native South Pacific. "Anytime you have a substantial increase in traffic whether it's airplanes or boats or cargo you increase the risk of invasive species moving around so the challenge with the buildup or any sort of activity like that is to try and forecast to address what kinds of needs you have to address that increased risk," he said.

And the fear is that history may repeat itself as Guam prepares for an increase in traffic from the military buildup. Fortunately, an intensive study called the Micronesian bio-security plan is already underway so that prevention efforts can be implemented before the buildup is in full swing.

Phil Andreozzi with the Invasive Species Council said, "It's something that DoD has paid for to proactively look at all the invasive species problems and damages that could come into Guam and could come into the entire region because of the buildup and to do something about it now and do something about it now, to figure out how we can best address the situation now before the buildup starts," he said.

The study has picked up steam in the last several months as the region welcomed about 30 federal scientists to study local environmental concerns. While the military buildup will take place on Guam, the Micronesian Bio-Security Plan recognizes that prevention and mitigation efforts will have to spread throughout our region. "This kind of study has never been done anywhere on the planet before, not only just the United States, but nowhere on the planet have they looked at everything coming into an area and not only on the land but in the water as well so this is both terrestrial, marine, and freshwater," said Andreozzi.

When the study is complete, the hope is that it can be applied to the local agencies as soon as possible to avoid the kind of havoc wreaked by the brown tree snake and protect our fragile ecosystem.

DEIS outlines training procedures on Tiyan

DEIS outlines training procedures on Tiyan

Monday, 28 December 2009 04:27
by Jude Lizama | Variety News Staff

THE proposed Tinian-based U.S. Marines training facilities cited in the draft environmental statement impact cites certain priorities for proper use and management focused on the areas including personnel, environmental and civilian safety.

According to the impact statement, the military would schedule any training activities one week in advance, and would also engage in public notification initiatives through the media.

Additionally, the draft study states that “biosecurity training would be coordinated through informal consultations,” with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources through regional training authority one-week prior to training events.

Environmental briefings, including brown tree snake control, would also be completed prior to departure.

Cultural resource briefing would be completed prior to departure. Authorized USDA inspectors would conduct inspection of supplies and equipment before such shipments bound for Tinian are to be cleared.

The construction of fences, security gates, and range flag poles would be constructed around designated training areas to ensure that necessary portions of the training site are “clear of non-participating personnel during live firing to avoid the potential for injury from ricochet or misdirected shots.”

The draft impact study also assumes that “access to the [military lease area] would be in accordance with Marine Corps safety regulations and would vary depending on the type of training activity that is being conducted. As an example, live-fire activities on proposed ranges would require limited access to the [lease area] on the eastern side of Tinian.”

Limitations to access and various security requirements would be “part of the standard operating procedures for all ranges. The extent of fencing has not been determined, but roads would be gated and range control personnel would survey the area for unauthorized people.

Available monitoring capabilities would be utilized to assure public safety during training events. Training units would have direct communications with range control, and would fly a large red flag when the [training area] is in use,” according to the study.

USDA eyes pilot study to increase availability of locally grown foods

USDA eyes pilot study to increase availability of locally grown foods

Friday, December 25, 2009

WASHINGTON-Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan recently announced a new pilot project under the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative for farmers to establish high tunnels-also known as hoop houses-to increase the availability of locally grown produce in a conservation-friendly way.

“There is great potential for high tunnels to expand the availability of healthy, locally-grown crops-a win for producers and consumers,” said Merrigan. “This pilot project is going to give us real-world information that farmers all over the country can use to decide if they want to add high tunnels to their operations. We know that these fixtures can help producers extend their growing season and hopefully add to their bottom line.”

The three-year, 38-state study will verify if high tunnels are effective in reducing pesticide use, keeping vital nutrients in the soil, extending the growing season, increasing yields, and providing other benefits to growers.

Made of ribs of plastic or metal pipe covered with a layer of plastic sheeting, high tunnels are easy to build, maintain and move. High tunnels are used year-round in parts of the country, providing steady incomes to farmers-a significant advantage to owners of small farms, limited-resource farmers and organic producers.

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service will provide financial assistance for the project through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the EQIP Organic Initiative, and the Agricultural Management Assistance program. NRCS will fund one high tunnel per farm. High tunnels in the study can cover as much as 5 percent of 1 acre.

Participating states and territories are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Pacific Islands, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

To sign up or learn more about EQIP assistance for high tunnel projects, contact a local NRCS office. (USDA)

Stimulus boosts dev’t programs

Stimulus boosts dev’t programs

Thursday, 19 November 2009 03:58
by Jude Lizama | Variety News Staff

JOSEPH M. Diego, USDA Rural Development Area II director, discussed how an influx of funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has boosted the current USDA Rural Development budget resulting in an increase of development opportunities.

“We didn’t get a special budget to help with the Guam buildup but the stimulus package has been a substitute for that and benefited a lot of the projects that we are engaged with outside of the fence,” Diego said referring to communities outside the military bases.

USDA Rural Development received $3 billion to add to its guarantee program for loans and grants; $1.1 billion for low-interest direct loans and $61 million in grants for nonprofit community organizations.

Stimulus monies also boosted housing programs in the rural development budget with just under $1 billion and $3.7 billion for the infrastructure program. Stimulus funds expire in September 2010.

Since 2001, the rural development program has invested more than $1.1 billion nationwide for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth and home ownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Guam received roughly $300 million of that during the same period.

Kenneth Lujan, manager for U.S. Small Business Administration, discussed future local development opportunities for the island but noted a critical shortcoming.

“The problem is we lack grant writers. We lose a lot of money,” Diego said. “We have grants available for the villages but the mayors are so busy working with their communities, they don’t have time to write the grants.”

But Lujan said a collaboration with USDA has been made to ensure that needs of the small business community are met.

Lujan said the Small Business Development Center is another assistance tool geared toward providing free services in preparing business plans in addition to one-to-one counseling. “We do have a lot of these programs that you can throw yourself to,” Lujan said. “It’s just a matter of you coming in for assistance.”

Diego also cited opportunities to assist businesses in achieving renewable energy initiatives and energy efficiency. USDA Rural Development can provide energy grants to “for-profit” businesses up to $500,000 and loans up to $25 million to assist businesses with investments.