| **No. 3 September 1999**
**Island Invasion:    Exotics Threaten Pacific Ecosystems by James C. Space and Robin    Maille 
Hawaii now    tops the national roster as home to the most endangered plant species. Some 300 plants are    now federally listed from the State. The cause? Many factors contribute, but nonnative    species as severe competitors for water and nutrients, as carriers of fire, as four-legged    lawn mowers, and as homes to new insects and diseases are indisputably the main culprits.    If you were to stop by the roadside in Hawaii to take a picture of a plant, you would have    a 50 percent chance of encountering a nonnative species. 
Island ecosystems are particularly susceptible to invasion because of their isolation    and evolutionary history. *Miconia calvescens*, a fast-growing tree native to    tropical America, has virtually overwhelmed native ecosystems on the islands of Tahiti and    Moorea in French Polynesia, and threatens to do the same in Hawaii. The introduction of    alien grasses onto Pacific islands, including Hawaii, has changed fire regimes by    increasing fuel loads and altering fire frequency, intensity, and size. These invasions    may cause catastrophic change to forest and woodland communities, disruption of ecosystem    processes, and extirpation of some endemic plants and animals. 

Weed threats that impact most Pacific Island ecosystems remain poorly documented and    evaluated. Based on recommendations by the Pacific Islands Committee of the Council of    Western State Foresters, the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service provided funds to begin the    Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) Project in collaboration with the USDA Forest    Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (IPIF), located in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

The PIER project, established in 1998, compiles and disseminates information on exotic    plant species of known or potential threat to Pacific Island ecosystems, focusing on    present and former U.S. territories. The effort involves consultation and coordination    with other Pacific Rim and island nations, as well as with international agencies to    provide information to quarantine officers, land managers, and others interested in    protecting forest and wildland ecosystems. 
***Passaiflora mollissima,*a        light loving vine, can rapidly reach and smother the forest canopy when subcanopy        vegetations disturbed.**Photo by C.W. Smith.
In August 1998, as part of the PIER Project, Jim Space and Marjorie    Falanruw of IPIF conducted a survey of selected Micronesian islands for invasive plant    species. They found 132 species that are invasive to wildland ecosystems. In addition, 88    species were identified that are known to be invasive in similar ecosystems, but are not    present in Micronesia. There are also numerous species that are invasive weeds in gardens    and pastures, but do not pose a particular threat to wildland ecosystems. 

Information from the August survey was added to the PIER data base. The data base is a    readily available synthesis of plants that are of known or potential threat to Pacific    Island ecosystems. The data base contains information on: (1) identity; (2) growth form;    (3) area of origin; (4) known or likely methods of introduction and spread; (5) other    countries or regions in which the weed is a pest; (6) community types affected or    potentially affected by invasion; (7) assessment of risk of introduction and potential for    spread once introduced; (8) methods of control; (9) methods of eradication; and (10)    further references. 

The master material, in the form of summary reports for each species, is maintained on    the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk Project Internet site (http://www/hear.org.pier), as well    as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's Global Plant Pest Information    System, and the invasive species data base being developed by the Invasive Species    Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. 

**Map of the estimated distribition of *Passiflora        ollissima*on Hawaii (Kauai).** Map prepared by Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk        Project. 
Using material from the website, a loose-leaf manual has been published for day-to-day    use by quarantine officers and other field personnel who may not have ready access to the    Internet. Once the data base is relatively complete, PIER will publish the material on    CD-ROM for local use off-line.

The PIER data base provides information on weed threats that tropical and subtropical    island partners need to set the policies and practices best suited to their own    situations. It provides land managers assistance in working with quarantine organizations    in the exclusion of plant pests; aid in identification in the field; and information and    references on potential weed impact, control, and eradication.

*James C. Space is former Director of the Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA    Forest Service. He now serves as a consultant to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry*. 

 
**International Perspective: Cooperation to        Control Invasive Species** by Bov B. Eav

Nonnative species are        a major disturbance factor affecting America's forests, and a growing threat to forest        sustainability. Exotic plants, animals, forest insects, and diseases displace native        species; infest, infect, weaken, or kill trees; and reduce the land's biodiversity and        productivity. Introduction of exotic species will most likely accelerate in the years to        come due to increased global commerce. In the last century, at least 4,500 species of        nonnative plants, animals, and microbes have become established in the United States, of        which about 15 percent are considered harmful. Nonnative plants such as cheatgrass and        kudzu can permanently change natural ecosystem cycles leading to soil destabilization and        loss of productivity. 
Nineteen of the 70 major insect pests of U.S. forests are nonnative species that cause        severe economic and biological impacts. Recent introduction of the Asian gypsy moth        required $20 million for control in the States of Oregon and Washington. More than 3,000        urban trees were destroyed after the discovery of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALHB) in        New York in 1996 and in Chicago in 1998. Infestations have been, and are being discovered        this year in the same locations. Wood products, maple syrup, commercial fruit, tree        nurseries, and tourist industries, valued at $41 billion, are all at risk from the ALHB.

Diseases such as Dutch elm disease and chestnut blight have forever changed the        character of forested landscapes in the United States. More than 50 percent of American        elm have been lost to Dutch elm disease and mature American chestnuts have vanished from        the forest ecosystems. Given the magnitude of demonstrated and potential impacts of exotic        invasive species, it is critical that:- Information on species that have the potential to cause significant damage in North            America are collected and shared with regulatory and forestry agencies throughout the            region to prevent introductions or to ensure recognition if found,
- Studies on fundamental biology, systematics, and population ecology of these species are            conducted to understand and predict their invasive character, and
- Detection, monitoring and integrated pest management methods and technologies are            developed and implemented.

It is clear that research and development activities will be facilitated by genuine        cooperation between countries where noxious species originate and the countries where        these species find new hosts. Recognizing the importance of this international        cooperation, the Forest Health Protection (FHP) Staff of the Forest Service formed the FHP        International Action Team to enhance the exchange of information and technology with other        countries. 

This issue of *International Program News* contains examples of international        collaborative projects involving scientists from around the world to control ALHB, gypsy        moth, and kudzu and other invasive plant species. These projects are leading to        science-based programs of monitoring, prevention, and control of exotic species that have        global implications in the larger interests of stable and sustainable forest ecosystems,        commerce and trade, and international knowledge exchange.

Bov Eav is former        Director of the USDA Forest Service National Center for Forest Health Management (now        Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team-Morgantown, WV, and Fort Collins, CO). He is        currently Station Director of the Northeastern Research Station, Radnor, PA.
          **United States Partners with Europe and Russia    to Battle Invasive Species** by Mike McManus

Battling gypsy moths in Russian ports is just one of many invasive    species partnerships in Europe and Russia. Forest Service scientists are involved in a    wide variety of cooperative projects, which include monitoring insect populations,    identifying biocontrol agents, and applying hazard-rating systems for insect pests. In    addition, Forest Service scientists seek opportunities to share research findings with    other scientists around the world to build on the knowledge base necessary to control or    prevent the spread of invasive species. Examples of partnerships include:- USDA's Forest Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Federal        agencies in Russia initiated a monitoring program for the Asian gypsy moth and two other        related species,  Lymantria monacha  and  L. mathura,  in forests surrounding        major ports in the Russian Far East. The intent is to control populations of these serious        pests at their point of origin and thereby reduce the risk that ocean-going vessels will        accidentally carry them to the United States.
- Scientists from the Forest Service and the Forest Research Institute in Lithuania are        determining the feasibility of applying hazard rating systems developed for western bark        beetles in the United States to the Norway spruce beetle in Europe.  Ips typographusis,         the most serious pest of spruce in Northern Europe, is considered at high risk for        introduction into the United States. 
- Forest Service scientists are cooperating with scientists from forest research        institutes in Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Hungary to isolate and        identify insect pathogens that help to regulate populations of the gypsy moth and        browntail moth in those countries. These pathogens have excellent potential to be        effective biocontrol agents for European gypsy moth in the United States. 
- Through the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations, a working party        recently met in Scion, Switzerland, to discuss methodology in forest insect and disease        survey in Central Europe. Forest Service Research Scientist Mike McManus shared        information on what we have learned in the United States about the behavior of the ALHB.        This information exchange may help European scientists and foresters prevent devastating        infestations such as those that occurred in New York and Chicago in recent years. 

Significant increases in international travel and global trade are certain to    exacerbate the many problems associated with the introduction of nonnative invasive    species. International cooperation on invasive species issues will continue to be an    important part of Forest Service research.
*Mike McManus is a research scientist at the Northeastern    Center for Forest Health Research, Hamden, CT.*

 

**Chinese Scientists Help Combat Asian    Longhorned Beetles** by Richard Reardon

The ALHB, *Anoplophora glabripennis**Motschulsky*, hitchhiked    into the United States in the early 1990's on wood used for crating cargo. Since this    time, the insect has damaged hardwoods in commercial, urban, and wildland forests of North    America. It appears to attack not only stressed or aging trees, but also healthy trees of    any age.

ALHB is native to Asia, in fact, in the People's Republic of China (PRC), 107 species    of longhorned beetles injure poplar, maple, and willow species and more than 10 of these    cause large-scale economic injuries. In the PRC, it has become one of the most damaging    and difficult-to-control forest pests.

The only survey technique available so far in the United States and PRC is dependent on    visual inspection. This method is both expensive and ineffective for detecting lightly    infested trees. In the PRC, limited mechanical and insecticidal controls are used only on    young individual trees. In the United States, the eradication program relies on the    removal and destruction of all infected host material. The whole tree is removed, and all    material is chipped and burned. Stumps are then removed by grinding.

**Female ALHB use mouthparts to cut        slits into wood to lay eggs.**        Photo by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
USDA and university scientists in the United States have identified five priority areas    of research and technology development to manage ALHB. They include: (1) developing survey    techniques based on kairmones and pheromones (volatile chemicals emitted by one species to    affect another species) from both male and female adult ALHB beetles; (2) developing    control techniques to prevent egg laying or to eliminate beetles from infested trees    (e.g., systemic insecticides); (3) determining which North American tree species are    suitable for ALHB larval development and adult maturation feeding; (4) developing    technical support for exclusion and eradication programs; and (5) performing risk    assessments for possible introductions associated with wood (eg. crating, pallets, and    dunnage) originating from areas where the insect is native.

USDA's Forest Service, through the Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team    (Morgantown, West Virginia), and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, through the    Otis Plant Protection Center (Falmouth, Massachusetts), have been collaborating with the    Chinese Academy of Forestry (Dr. Ruitong Gao) and Beijing Forestry University (Dr. Youqing    Luo) to develop technology for the top two priorities--survey and control techniques. 

Survey Techniques In the United States and PRC, volatile compounds from host    plants and beetles were collected and evaluated in the laboratory to determine if the    beetles were capable of sensing them. In 1998, 11 compounds from plants and 4 compounds    from the beetle were tested in Gansu Province, PRC. In 1999, the same compounds as tested    in 1998 will be re-evaluated as well as five additional compounds in Ningxia Province,    PRC.

Control Techniques In 1998, only two systemic insecticides were evaluated using    soil injections due to problems in shipping the insecticide from United States to PRC and    delayed treatment timing. In 1999, systemic insecticides will be evaluated, using soil    injection, trunk injection, or trunk implantation (total of approximately 500 poplar    trees) in Gansu and Hebei Provinces, PRC. Also seven insecticides will be applied directly    to the bark of poplar branches in the greenhouse. ALHB will be placed on the twigs,    allowed to feed, and mortality recorded.

**Immature ALHB bore through inner bark of        wood.**Photo by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
The immediate success of these efforts is critical to managing ALHB and associated    beetle species in PRC as well as identifying and eradicating infestation in the United    States.

*Richard Reardon is program manager, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team,    Morgantown, West Virginia.*

**The Search for Natural Enemies for Kudzu** by Kerry Britton
Kudzu (*Pueraria lobata*) is a woody vine that covers 7 million acres from Texas    to Florida, and north to Maryland. It was first introduced into the United States in 1896    as an ornamental plant and widely planted for erosion control. With few natural enemies to    keep it from spreading, kudzu is invading approximately 120,000 acres each year.

The USDA Forest Service recently initiated a program to develop a practical system for    biological control of kudzu. Since kudzu is native to China, the first stage will be to    survey Chinese kudzu and determine what insects or diseases feed on kudzu. The most    promising of these will then be studied in depth. Mass rearing techniques will have to be    developed, because potential biocontrol agents will have to be tested thoroughly to be    certain they will not transfer to other hosts in the United States.

**Dr. Jianhua Sun (left) discusses kudzu        with a local farmer**.         Photo by Kerry Britton.
The Forest Service Office of International Programs funded work to build the foundation    for an expanded research effort on kudzu biological control, which includes identification    of the target weed and survey for potential biocontrol agents. Introduced weeds, in their    new habitat, often show more aggressive growth and different morphology than in their    native homelands due to the new climate, soil types, and lack of natural enemies in their    new habitat. Positive identification of the weed in its native homeland to confirm that it    is the same as the weed being targeted for biological control in North America is a    critical step.

The center of a weeds genetic diversity is considered the best place to look for the    most diversity of biocontrol agents. It is important to review the range of the weed in    its homeland, and then select the populations of the plant that have the highest chance of    producing useful potential biological control agents. Hefei, in Anhui Province, has the    closest climate match to the area where kudzu is a major problem in the southern United    States. In May 1999, Forest Service scientists visited Hefei, and located kudzu. They will    also survey further south in the mountains of Guangdong Province. Many unimproved roads    complicate the search for potential biocontrol agents in rural China. 

Fortunately, the Forest Service has a valuable asset in China. Dr. Jianghua Sun is    coordinating kudzu research efforts there. He recently returned to China after spending 3    years working at the Southern Research Station Laboratory in Athens, Georgia, on a joint    Sino-American biocontrol project involving a pine-feeding mealybug (*Oracella acuta*)    accidently introduced into China from the United States. 

Dr. Sun has recruited several entomologists and a plant pathologist to conduct    systematic surveys for insects and diseases on kudzu in east central and southern China.    He will implement a cooperative study plan developed by the Forest Service, North Carolina    State University, and Chinese collaborators. The plan includes working with the Chinese    Academy of Forestry to identify insects collected in the surveys. A literature review will    then help identify insects that are potentially good biocontrol agents. A master's student    at Anhui Agricultural University is already studying the life histories and feeding habits    of a root-feeding beetle, a leaf-feeding beetle, and a weevil that cuts the tips off kudzu    vines.

**Kudzu grows in high mountains above        intensively cultivated land in the Anhui Province.**        Photo by Kerry Britton
Researchers are encouraged by the array of natural insect predators of kudzu in China.    In addition, the Chinese have developed a number of uses for kudzu that help keep it in    check. One significant use of kudzu in rural China is to extract starch, which is    considered useful against hangovers and heart disease. Forest Service scientists visited a    starch factory that had 35 tons of processed starch in their warehouse from last year's    harvest. One hundred pounds of kudzu roots produces 8 pounds of starch.

It is essential that Chinese and American scientists continue to work for the common    good not only on kudzu, but also on many other forest management problems where interests    are shared. The stronger our friendship with our Chinese colleagues, the easier it will be    to achieve our common goals.

*Kerry Britton is project leader for Insect and Disease Research at the Southern    Research Station Laboratory, Athens, Georgia.*

**News Bits from Around the World**
***Protecting a    Global Biodiversity Hotspot in East Africa*
More than 50 percent of the Earth's terrestrial biodiversity is found on less than 2    percent of the Earth's land surface, in 24 biodiversity hotspots, according to    Conservation International. Included among these hotspots are the mountain forests in East    Africa, where the USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Centre (Nairobi, Kenya), Sokoine    University (Morogoro, Tanzania), and University of Georgia are beginning a 3-year    evaluation of forest health and land use change. 

One of the key features of biodiversity hotspots is that they are threatened with    destruction. The Eastern Arc Mountains serve as water catchments for urban areas and    provide firewood, medicinal plants, lumber, and other forest-related products. Local    villagers depend on these forests to live, although the mountain forests are now a    patchwork of forest fragments and agriculture. 

Information gathered in the study will be used to identify areas where remedial    measures are most needed. The main components of the study are satellite imagery,    permanently marked forest health plots and a web page for information exchange. The    current project involves Forest Service employees Denny Ward (Southern Region), Chuck Dull    (Washington Office), and Gerry Hertel (Northeastern Area). Dr. Keith Douce (University of    Georgia), Dr. Seif Madoffe (Sokoine University) and Professor Joe Mwangi (Forest Health    Centre and Moi University) complete the team.

*For more information contact Gerry Hertel (tel: 610-975-4124 or ghertel/[email protected] )or visit the following    websites:*http://www.bugwood.caes.uga.edu/africa/projects/arc_mountains.html,http://www.conservation.org/web/fieldact/hotspots/priority.htm
***Alaska/Pacific Northwest Team Wins Chief's International    Forestry Award***
The sixth Chief's International Forestry Award was presented to Wayne C. Bushnell, Chad    M. Converse, Paul W. Forward (Alaska Region), George H. Moeller (Washington Office), Gary    A. Morrison (Northern Region), and Peyton W. Owston, (Pacific Northwest Region-retired) on    June 8, 1999, in Washington, DC. The award was established to recognize contributions that    exceed normal job responsibilities to promote the global mission of the Forest Service and    the foreign policy objectives of the United States. The team was recognized for their    outstanding contributions to a successful cooperative program with the Federal Forest    Service of Russia (RFFS) and others in promoting sustainable forestry in the Russian Far    East.

The team has been working with the RFFS, the U.S. Agency for International Development    and other organizations in the Russian Far East since 1994 to improve the capacity for    fire suppression and reforestation. Technical advice and assistance from the United States    have helped the RFFS purchase much-needed fire equipment such as fire trucks, computers    for lightning detection, hand tools, and protective clothing. In addition, based on U.S.    Forest Service designs, reforestation facilities including buildings for long-term storage    of tree seeds, and energy efficient greenhouses, have helped improve seedling crops used    for reforestation. Russian foresters have had the opportunity to participate in a series    of seminars in Russia on a variety of topics as well as traveling to the United States to    observe forestry practices. The work already accomplished will have long-term benefits to    the forest resources and biodiversity in Russia as well as improving cultural    understanding among the participants in both countries. 

***IITF Celebrates 60th Anniversary***
In celebration of its 60th    Anniversary IITF sponsored a week-long scientific conference, May 23-28, 1999, in San    Juan, Puerto Rico, on the restoration of tropical forests and the importance of urban    forestry. Participants enjoyed plenary talks by distinguished scientists, field trips to    various locations on the island, and a gala dinner with Chief Dombeck (USDA/FS) as the    keynote speaker. An audience that included representatives from over 25 countries    worldwide attended the conference.
In 1928, the McSweeney-McNary Forest Research Act authorized the establishment of a    Forest Experiment Station in the "tropical possessions of the United States in the    West Indies." That authorization led to the establishment of the Tropical Forest    Experiment Station in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, in 1939. Today, the expanded International    Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF) has responsibility for programs in State and Private    Forestry, International Forestry, and Research and Development. IITF has been successful    in achieving its mission with a strong international flavor.

***FS Assists with Humanitarian Needs of Kosovar Refugees***
During the month of June 1999 the Forest Service had 11 people supporting the    logistics, operations, Geographic Information Systems and field requirements for the U.S.    Government efforts to respond to the Kosovo refugee humanitarian situation. Forest Service    personnel on temporary detail worked with the U.S. Agency for International Development    Emergency Operations Center at the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance in Washington, at    an airlift departure base in Italy, and refugee camps in Albania and Macedonia. 

Ron Libby and Greg Garbinsky of the International Programs Disaster Assistance Support    Program both spent a good part of their summers working with humanitarian needs of Kosovar    refugees as they return to their homeland from refugee camps in Albania and Macedonia. Ron    has been focusing on agriculture and natural resource issues in Albania and Kosovo. Greg    helped organize and coordinate assistance efforts from Macedonia.

***Developing a Fire Suppression Plan for Riau and South    Sumatra Provinces, Indonesia***
In the fire prone provinces of Indonesia, provincial government agencies are    recognizing and grappling with the regional concerns over health and economic impacts of    haze caused by forest and land fires.******Two USDA Forest Service fire    suppression technical advisors were part of a team that traveled within Riau and South    Sumatra provinces in May to collect information necessary to develop a prototype fire    suppression mobilization plan. Working with Indonesian counterparts, they identified    strengths and weaknesses in the existing fire suppression mobilization system. Indonesian    team members took an increasingly active role in plan development as information was    collected and they wrote the entire prototype plan with minimal assistance. Team meetings    provided a forum for dialogue around fire issues and many previously unrecognized    resources were identified as available for involvement in fire suppression efforts. 

***Protected Forest Areas Issues Explored at International    Experts Meeting***
The governments of Brazil and the United States sponsored an international experts    meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the week of March 15, 1999, to discuss issues related to    protected forest areas. The goal of the meeting was to distill the wisdom of experts    worldwide into succinct conclusions and practical recommendations for protected areas. The    meeting centered around five themes, which included: classification systems and management    effectiveness for protected forest areas, criteria for establishing protected sites,    economic viability of protected areas, and the benefits and mechanisms for protecting    them.

While there is a general consensus among nations that protecting forest areas is    important, a need exists for consistent information regarding the status of these areas.    Other information needs include identifying methods for initiating policies, funding    mechanisms, and field level management tools that foster the protection of forest areas    and expand their benefits to local populations. 

After a week of intense and often spirited debate, the participants reached a consensus    on 8 conclusions and 16 recommendations. The conclusions stress the need for promoting    synergies, eliminating inconsistencies, and developing methods and indicators. The    recommendations urge countries and institutions to provide increased financial support for    consolidating and expanding protected forest area systems and to adopt a landscape,    ecosystem, or bioregional approach to protected forest area system planning.

***Watershed Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Post-Hurricane    Mitch***
Scott Lampman (Office of International Programs) and Scott Lewis (USDA Foreign    Agricultural Service/ International Cooperation and Development) conducted a 2-week trip    to Central America in May to help program approximately $6 million set aside for watershed    reconstruction and rural infrastructure rehabilitation following Hurricane Mitch and    Hurricane George. They traveled to Guatemala and El Salvador and worked with U.S. Agency    for International Development Mission staff, other U.S. Government agencies, and    non-governmental organizations to program the funds. The Forest Service may be involved    with implementing watershed work in the future in the above two countries as well as    Honduras. Funds for this work are part of a $20 million package to USDA to assist with    post-Hurricane work.

**New Journals, Books, and Websites**

The CIDA Forestry Advisers Network (CFAN) has recently posted a new    presentation on its website - **Deforestation: Tropical Forests in Decline**. Visit it    at: http://www.rcfa-cfan.org

The **Proceedings from the Central African Non-Wood Forest Products Workshop**, May    1998, will soon be available in either French or English. For a hardcopy please send a    request to:

Paul Vantomme, Non-Wood Forest Products Officer, Wood and Non-Wood Utilization Branch,    FOPW, Forest Products Division, Forestry Department, FAO, Via Terme di Caracalla      00100 Rome, Italy, Tel.: (++39) 06 570 54064, Fax: (++39) 06 570 55618, Email: [email protected]. The publication will soon    become available on the FAO NWFP website: http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/FORESTRY/NWFP/NONWOOD.HTM

The English version is currently available on the website for the Central African    Regional Program for the Environment: http://carpe.gecp.virginia.edu

The **Forestry Greenbook,**formatted by country, state, province and type of    industry, contains useful information on over 24,000 forestry and forestry related    companies, as well as educational institutions. The regular price is $199 U.S.. Sale price    is $139 U.S. plus tax, shipping, and handling charges. For more information visit www.forestryunlimited.com. You can    order on-line or by contacting [email protected].    

The hands-on **Participatory Rural Appraisal and Planning (PRAP) Workbook,**written    by D. Selener, M. Endara, and J. Carvajal**,**provides guidelines for conducting PRAP    to identify and design community and regional level projects based on local needs. The    book explains 22 different participatory appraisal and planning tools and provides more    than 50 illustrations of actual field exercises. The cost of the workbook is $25 U.S.,    postage included. Mail checks to IIRR, Apartado Postal 17-08-8494, Quito, Ecuador, South    America. A 20 percent discount is available on orders of 10 or more books. For more    information, contact IIRR at fax #: (593-2)443-763 or e-mail: [email protected]

A **new world map shows the distribution of some of the most highly valued terrestrial    biodiversity** including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and seed plants. Visit: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/science/projects/worldmap

A **global clearinghouse website of information, resources, and recommendations in    gender, science, and technology (GST) for equitable and sustainable development**was    launched June 29, 1999. The GST Gateway contains policy recommendations; examples of case    studies and best practices; key issues and research; existing initiatives; and lists of    resources, including organizations working in each area, publications, and internet    resources. The Gateway is designed for development experts, governments, and the private    sector. It is found at http://gstgateway.wigsat.org

Three new websites are currently under construction providing**information on    biodiversity, conservation funds, and ecotourism.** Check back often to see how they    progress. All sites operate on an independent and volunteer basis.
http://biodiversity.homepage.com
http://ctf.homepage.com

http://ecotourism.homepage.com
If you have documents or links to share contact the editor and    webmaster, John Shores, via e-mail at: [email protected]

The field manuals, **Imperata Grassland Rehabilitation Using Agroforestry and Assisted    Natural Regeneration**, by Kathleen S. Friday, M. Elmo Drilling, and Dennis P. Garrity    (167 pp.) and its companion volume, **Imperata Management for Smallholders**, by the    Indonesian Rubber Research Institute and Natural Resources Institute, UK (48 pp.), are now    available from the International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF). The manuals    are designed for extensionists, agriculturists, foresters, development workers, and others    who can assist communities and smallholders to design and implement Imperata    rehabilitation activities. For copies contact: ICRAF Southeast Asian Regional Research    Programme, Jl. CIFOR, Situ Gerde, Sindang Barang, Bogor 16680, PO Box 161, Bogor 16001,    Indonesia, fax +62-251-625-416, e-mail: [email protected]
**Meeting and Workshop Announcements******11th    USDA Interagency Research Forum on Gypsy Moth and Other Invasive Species**,     January 18-21, 2000, Loews Annapolis Hotel, Annapolis, Maryland. This meeting, previously    titled the USDA Interagency Gypsy Moth Research Forum, was renamed to reflect the    increased research focus on invasive species such as Asian longhorned beetle, hemlock    woolly adelgid, and nun moth. For more information, or to be placed on the mailing list,    contact: Katherine McManus, USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, 51 Mill    Pond Road, Hamden, CT 06514; Phone: 203-230-4330; FAX: 203-230-4315; e-mail: kmcmanus/[email protected]
**International Seminar on Forest and Natural Resource Administration and    Management**,     August 2000,  Colorado, Wyoming, Southeast United States and Washington, DC. This    annual seminar is an intensive, interactive training program designed for management    professionals who desire to improve their managerial and administrative skills. The    seminar fee is $5,000. For moreinformation contact Ms. Ann Keith, Coordinator 16th    International Forestry Seminar, College of Natural Resources, Colorado StateUniversity,    Fort Collins, CO 80523-1401, USA tel: 970/221-9566 fax: 970-484-9560, e-mail: [email protected] or visit    theISFAM website http://www.fs.fed.us/global/isfam/welcome.htm/

For other meetings and workshops related to international natural    resource management, visit the following: Agriculture Network Information Center, http://www.agnic.prg/mtg/99k.html; International    Institute for Sustainable Development: http://www.isd.ca/linkages/updates/forest.html;    and International Tropical Timber Organization: http://www.itto.or.jp/newsletter/v9n2/26.html

 The **International Programs News** presents highlights of policy, research,        technical cooperation, development, and conservation activities in which the Forest        Service is involved worldwide. Its purpose is to demonstrate the breadth and importance of        international collaboration on natural resource management issues and to share information        within the Forest Service and with our partners in the United States and around the world.                         The **Office of International Programs** (IP) is dedicated to applying the wealth of        skills within the Forest Service to foster sustainable forest management globally. We link        the agency's researchers, foresters, wildlife biologists, hydrologists, policymakers, and        disaster specialists, with partners overseas to work on assignments in the areas of        technical cooperation, policy assistance, and disaster coordination. Our focus is on key        natural resource problems and issues in countries with significant forest resources and        important forest-related trade with the United States. International cooperation results        in improved sustainable natural resource practices in partner countries, develops the        skills of Forest Service personnel, and brings back knowledge and innovative technologies        to the United States.          **Office of International Programs**                 USDA Forest Service, 1099 14th St. NW        Suite 5500W        Washington, DC 20005-3402        Web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/global/         *Director: Val Mezainis         Phone: (202) 205-1650        Editor: Robin Maille        Phone: (202) 273-0374, Fax: (202) 273-4749         E-mail: [email protected]*         
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