I say it's about time!-jps
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Subject: non-native species screening program for USA
ate: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 12:05:35 -0500
From: Freek Vrugtman
Reply-To:List of botanical gardens and arboreta staff interested in plant collections
To: AABGACOL@LIST.MSU.EDU

The following is reprinted from:
Richters HerbLetter
Published by: Richters, Specializing in the World of Herbs
Goodwood, Ontario L0C 1A0, Canada
Conrad Richter
Reports:
U.S. Government to Block Imports of Non-Native Plant Species by 2007
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By Conrad Richter

Nov. 19 -- The United States government has announced a plan to introduce
a non-native species screening program that critics say will effectively
block importation of new flowers, vegetables and herbs.

The National Invasive Species Council, mandated by an executive order
signed by President Clinton in 1999, released a draft of its National
Management Plan last month. The plan calls for the prevention of new
species from becoming established in the United States by screening them
for "invasiveness" before they are allowed entry into the country. The
plan also calls for "applying similar principles, or other management
options, to species currently in trade." The NISC plans to have the
screening system fully developed and tested by 2003, and by 2007 all new
species introductions "for any purpose", including new species for
botanical gardens and for research, will be required to be evaluated.

Critics fear that the cost in dollars and in loss of access to plant
species will far exceed the benefit of preventing the spread of new
invasive species. To prove that a plant species will not be harmful to
American agriculture or native ecosystems will be difficult and will
likely involve an expensive bureaucratic process, to the point that most
seed and plant companies will not be able to afford to offer new flowers,
vegetables and herbs to American gardeners and farmers.

==> To read the rest of this story, please go to
http://www.richters.com
and follow the link to the "HerbLetter"

A very discouraging development indeed for all botanical gardens, inside or outside the United States.
Freek Vrugtman
International Lilac Registrar
Box 399
HAMILTON Ontario
CANADA L8N 3H8

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