Policy Priorities - Biological Security

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Biological Security:

This issue is given traction by the impending June deadline for fast-track consideration of free trade agreements. The House Ways and Means Committee leadership pledged in the Spring of 2007 to add environmental protection as an element of future trade agreements. The International Conservation Caucus in Congress has made improving control over illegal logging and trade in its products one of its priorities.

Combining inspection and certification improvements to control trade in illegally harvested wood and the transport of invasive species will enhance the efficiency of both efforts.

Biological Security News

• SCB-North America to Congress: Include Ban on Imports of Stolen Timber in the Final Farm Bill
• Aquatic Nuisance Legislative Update -- February 12, 2008 (word doc)
• Natural Resources to Vote on H.R. 1497 to Provide Equal Protection FromTimber Poachers For Forgein For Forests
  
  
• Controlling the Importation of Illegally Harvested Plants and Wood Products
  Listed below is the Senate bill introduced by Senator Wyden and supporting documents from civil society and industry. SCB Members may want to review the materials and consider what they and their sections would like to do about the issue. It may be considered in the U.S. Congress this Fall.
  • Lacey Q&A Memo_26jul07 (200k pdf)
  • Lacey enforcement primer_26jul07 (73k pdf)
  • Combat Illegal Logging Act of 2007 (32k pdf)
  • Combat Illlegal Logging Act redlined in Lacey (63k pdf)
  • Lacey support letter industry coalition_30jul07 (415k pdf)
  • civil society coalition letter_27jul07_final (543k pdf

On March 12, 2007, Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Robert Wexler (D-FL), and Jerry Weller (R-IL) intorduced "The Legal Timber Protection Act, H.R. 1497." "It has gained several additional co-sponsors, been endorsed by major environmental organizations, and is being studied closely by timber industry federations in dialogue with the bill’s supporters." -- from an article by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Issues:

What new environmental elements will be included in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and “Fast Track” Legislation (requiring up or down votes on FTAs without amendments)?

How can we effectively halt the importation of illegally harvested plants?

How can we help recently reorganized agencies and customs agents play a stronger role in controlling invasive species?

Resources and Institutions

Forest Stewardship Council