being done to look at possible impacts, the U.S. Department of Defense 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, or MBP, that will provide a blueprint for the entire region of Micronesia inclusive of Palau, Guam, CNMI, FSM and the Marshall Islands to effectively prevent new invasive species incursions and minimize additional invasive species damage.
On Friday, Nov. 20, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service team was 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.
