U.S. Department of the Interior Office of the SecretaryFor Immediate Release: Feb. 1, 1999 Contact: Tim Ahern (202) 208-5089
Adrew Solomon (202) 720-4623
Matt Stout (202) 482-6090 MEDIA ADVISORY Babbitt, Glickman and Baker Will Announce
Administration Effort to Deal with Invasive Species WASHINGTON - Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, and Under Secretary of Commerce James Baker will hold a news conference on Feb. 3, 1999 to announce a coordinated federal effort to deal with the growing environmental and economic threat posed by invasive species and non-native plants and animals. The trio will be joined by Dr. Edward O. Wilson of Harvard University, one of the world's leading scientific experts on the issue. Many scientists believe the spread of exotic species is one of the most serious, yet least known, threats to biodiversity. Non-native animal species cause $123 billion worth of damage each year to crops and rangeland and have caused other problems, such as the clogging of water pipes by zebra mussels in the Great Lakes region. WHAT: Announcement by Secretaries Babbitt and Glickman and Under Secretary Baker on invasive species WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1999, at 12:30 p.m. WHERE: Grosvenor Auditorium, National Geographic Society, 1600 M Street NW, Washington, D.C. CONTACT: Tim Ahern, Department of Interior, 202-208-5089 Andrew Solomon, Department of Agriculture, 202-720-4623 Matt Stout, NOAA, 202-482-6090
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U.S. Department of the Interior |