Activities and Products

2010 (as of March 2010)

• Placed Lurking in the Trees on the National Educational Television Association's ACCESS feed, thereby helping ensure that it would air on many public television stations.
• Developed recommendations for FY 2011 appropriations for USFS and APHIS.

2009

• Developed consensus letter to OMB urging expedited approval of APHIS proposal on Q-37 signed by 12 organizations.
• On behalf of 18 organizations submitted a consensus letter regarding support for USDA-APHIS' efforts to overhaul the Quarantine 37 rules governing plant imports, and the "Not Authorized Pending Pest Risk Analysis" (NAPPRA) proposed rule specifically.
• Created a set of consensus recommendations on APHIS and USFS appropriations which were signed by 21 and 18 organizations respectively.
  • Met with OMB on FY11 funding needs for APHIS.
• Crafted a letter to Secretary Vilsack on USDA APHIS' withdrawal of their interim rule regarding agricultural quarantine inspection user fees which was submitted on behalf of 19 organizations.
• Met with new Obama administration USDA officials with focus primarily on Q-37.
• Created and began promoting "Lurking in the Trees," a documentary on Asian Longhorned Beetle impacts in the Northeast.
• Continued to promote and update the Don't Move Firewood campaign.
• Continued to produce newsletter editions and share them with the full Dialogue
• Finalized the Plum Pox success story document as a tool for Dialogue participants, particularly for distribution during appropriations/funding requests.
• Held a Steering Committee retreat on June 23-24, 2009 in Washington, DC to develop the agenda for the upcoming Dialogue meeting.
• Convened the fifth Continental Dialogue meeting on October 27-28, 2009 in San Francisco, CA to continue efforts to link state and local actions to Continental Dialogue efforts to enhance national policies and strategies, enlist communities in the battle against non-native insects and diseases impacting their trees, and identify and agree on needed actions for Continental Dialogue to take in 2010.

2008

• Developed a consensus letter to USDA regarding the domestic spread of wood-related invasive pests by solid wood packaging that was signed by 16 organizations.
• Crafted consensus recommendations on APHIS and USFS appropriations which were signed by 16 and 14 organizations respectively.
  • In addition, the organizations lobbying for appropriations spent significant time coordinating on their efforts.
• Submitted a package of Dialogue related information and recommendations to the Obama Administration Transition Team in a meeting.
  • Included a consensus letter to Obama transition team signed by 21 organizations.
• Created a consensus letter related to the Draft 2008-2012 National Invasive Species Management Plan and submitted it with 13 organizational signatures.
• Created the award winning Don't Move Firewood website and secured formal support from 11 organizations. Website transitioned into a multimedia campaign.
• Developed initial newsletter for all Dialogue participants.
• Developed a resolution for the US Conference of Mayors and recruited sponsors and co-sponsors (including the mayors of Anchorage, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Sacramento, Honolulu, and Ann Arbor). The resolution was unanimously adopted at the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting.
• Convened a Steering Committee retreat on September 25-26, 2008 in Warrenton, Virginia to set the stage for the upcoming Dialogue meeting.
• Held the fourth Continental Dialogue meeting on November 12-13, 2008 in Grand Rapids, Michigan which provided the group with the opportunity to tie local-level challenges and solutions to national policies and strategies, enlist communities in the battle against non-native insects and diseases impacting their trees, and identify and agree on needed actions for Continental Dialogue to take in 2009.

2007

• Developed consensus recommendations on Federal Regulations Governing Imports of Living Plants (Q-37) which were then submitted to APHIS and formed an ongoing area of emphasis for the Dialogue.
• Crafted consensus recommendations on APHIS and USFS appropriations which were signed by 16 and 14 organizations respectively.
• Continued public polling efforts to refine understanding of regional differences in attitudes and to build the background information needed to launch Don't Move Firewood campaign.
• Held the second Continental Dialogue meeting on January 23-24, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia to confirm the Dialogue's vision and goals, identify key areas of focus, and develop detailed strategies for advancing those opportunities.
• Convened a Steering Committee retreat on October 2-3, 2007 in Elkridge, Maryland to set the stage for the upcoming Dialogue meeting.
• Organized the third Continental Dialogue meeting on December 12-13, 2007 in Washington, DC to share updates on implementation efforts and agree on activities for 2008.

2006

• Convened the first Continental Dialogue meeting on June 20-22, 2006 in Potomac, Maryland to engage diverse stakeholders in exploring and planning for a collaborative effort to address non-native forest insects and diseases.
• Recruited a diverse Steering Committee to oversee the effort.
• Developed the "Failure to Change" analysis paper for the Steering Committee.
• Held a Steering Committee retreat on September 5-6, 2006 in Elkridge, Maryland to build on the work of the first Dialogue meeting.
• Initiated public polling efforts (e.g., surveys; focus groups) to identify best ways of communicating about forest insects and diseases and public awareness of the issue.