USDA APHIS Team to Visit FSM for Micronesia Biosecurity Plan

Press Release #1109-18
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
November 19, 2009

(FSM Department of Resources & Development)  In support of the U.S. military relocation to Guam and the CNMI and the associated Environmental Impact Statement that is being done to look at possible impacts, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is funding a scientific analyses of terrestrial and marine invasive species risks to Micronesia that could occur as a result of the relocation buildup.  This effort is being conducted to help remove invasive species threats to the Military mission and to address invasive species concerns raised by the Micronesian Chief Executives and federal and regional partners.  These analyses will be performed by U.S. government scientists and incorporated into a Micronesia Biosecurity Plan (MBP) that will provide a blueprint for the entire region of Micronesia inclusive of Palau, Guam, CNMI, FSM and RMI, to effectively prevent new invasive species incursions and minimize additional invasive species damage.

On Friday, November 20, 2009, a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) team is scheduled to arrive in Pohnpei and meet with national and state organizations and agencies inclusive of Agriculture/Quarantine, Trade and Investment, Customs, Tourism, Health, Pohnpei Port Authority, Environment Protection Agency, Marine and/or Fisheries, and COM-FSM to review the work that is to be done in partnership with these agencies.  A risk analyses will be conducted for species from all taxa (plant, animal and pathogen) of terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems.  Ports of origin, ports of entry, pathways and commodities will also be analyzed. 

The MBP will not only rank species, ports, pathways and commodities of high, medium, or low risk, but it will also make recommendations for required port facilities, staffing levels, staff trainings, technologies needed, best management practices, monitoring systems and rapid response capability for each Micronesian jurisdiction.

The MBP will be developed by a partnership of U.S. agencies working in close collaboration with a variety of local and regional invasive species experts.  U.S. Federal partners include DoD (funding military logistics), U.S. Department of Agriculture (terrestrial analyses and port evaluations), U.S. Geological Survey (freshwater analyses), the Smithsonian Institute (marine analyses) and the National Invasive Species Council (overall coordination and primary liaison with regional partners).

This biosecurity plan will also address invasive species risks coming from and threatening the State of Hawaii as a result of the Military relocation.  The MBP is complementary to similar efforts going on elsewhere in Oceania and will allow several broader synergies and efficiencies to be realized.  This MBP is the first proactive assessment of invasive species impacts of such a major U.S. government action and in many ways, is a globally unique effort.  As such, it is receiving attention internationally and is being lauded as an excellent example of regional collaboration on invasive species issues by many regional and international organizations and conventions such as the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

This visit by the USDA APHIS team is being coordinated by FSM Agriculture of the FSM Department of Resources and Development, and any questions regarding the visit or the MBP should be directed to them at 691-320-5133.