The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is charged with the detection and eradication of plant pests or noxious weeds to protect the agriculture, environment, and economy of the United States.  To meet this obligation and fulfill the requirements of the Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act passed by Congress in 2004 (which called for managing populations of the non-native salt cedar plant), USDA APHIS initiated a Salt Cedar Biological Control Program in 2005, including issuing permits for the release of the tamarisk leaf beetle.  During the implementation of this program, information became available that an endangered bird species (southwestern willow flycatcher) was potentially being impacted by the removal of these non-native plants.  USDA APHIS decided to terminate the Program in 2010; despite taking this step, in 2013 litigation was directed at the Program by a non-governmental organization led to a court decision that the Program was not in compliance with Endangered Species Act (ESA).  This situation demonstrates the complexities of the interaction of various federal laws and programs, and consideration of this case may hold some lessons for agricultural practices as they interface with ESA.

Lesson for agriculture:  when the Endangered Species Act interferes with management of an invasive species

2019 Fall National Meeting

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