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<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">TO: Pollinator
Stakeholders<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">FR: Tom Van Arsdall,
on behalf of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:PersonName w:st="on">Laurie
Davies Adams</st1:PersonName><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">RE: Comments on
Proposal to Import Non-Native <I><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Bombus
impatiens</SPAN></I> Bumblebee into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place> for Pollination of Field
Crops<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><STRONG>COMMENT
DEADLINE: Friday, JANUARY 19,
2007<o:p></o:p></STRONG></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">ACTION REQUEST: Consider Submitting
Comments! We have confirmed that the California Department of Food &
Agriculture (CDFA) will also accept comments filed via e-mail. We suggest
you prepare your comments as a Word [or pdf] document and attach to a
transmittal e-mail to the attention of Jim Rains at <A
title=mailto:jrains@cdfa.ca.gov
href="mailto:jrains@cdfa.ca.gov">jrains@cdfa.ca.gov</A>.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">SUGGESTED KEY POINTS:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Personalizing your comments based on your own scientific
expertise and experiences is most effective. Following are some key points
for your consideration:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">* The applicant proposes to import a non-native species,
Bombus impatiens, as a TEMPORARY to provide supplemental crop pollination
services, until work on developing a native species commercially can be
completed.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">* The need for supplemental crop pollination services in
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place>, at
a level that would justify importation of a non-native species, has not been
demonstrated by the applicant. Alternative remedies, including an increase
in the supply of honeybee hives have not been
considered.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">* Pollination services are important to <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place> agriculture
and healthy ecosystems. The applicant and other interested stakeholders
should focus on the ongoing effort referenced in the application to identify and
commercialize appropriate native species.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">* Risk mitigation measures that would be relied upon to
prevent adverse ecological impacts are fraught with unanticipated
vulnerabilities and should not be relied upon as a basis for granting the
importation of <I><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Bombus
impatiens</SPAN></I>. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">* The ecological risks and unknowns of this temporary
measure are far too great to justify importing a non-native species, as adverse
consequences could be irreversible.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">* The CDFA Division of Plant Health and Pest Prevention
Services should not approve the requested permit for importing <I><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Bombus
impatiens</SPAN></I>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The Coevolution Institute (CoE) has prepared and
submitted the attached. These comments attempt to respond to the immediate
issues raised in the application and then offer more broadly applicable policy
recommendations that would help guide more informed decisions on such issues in
the future. Feel free to incorporate any points in your own
comments.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">NAPPC’s structure and protocol prohibit submission of
policy-related comments in NAPPC’s name. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">However, the preparation of CoE comments benefited
greatly from excellent input received from NAPPC volunteers. Thanks in
particular are due to Peter Kevan, Robbin Thorp, Liz Day and others.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><STRONG>Comments don’t need to be long to make a
difference. Pollinator stakeholders need to be heard.</STRONG>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">CDFA’s decision in this proceeding could set a positive
or negative precedent that will likely have future consequences for policies in
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place> and
other states.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Laurie Davies Adams<BR>Executive
Director<BR>Coevolution Institute<BR>423 Washington St. 5th<BR>San Francisco, CA
94111<BR>415 362 1137<BR></FONT><A href="http://www.coevolution.org"><FONT
face=Arial size=2>www.coevolution.org</FONT></A><BR><A
href="http://www.nappc.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>www.nappc.org</FONT></A><BR><A href="http://www.pollinator.org"><FONT
face=Arial size=2>www.pollinator.org</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Visit the above sites to register for the October
18<BR>Pollinator Symposium at the USDA Jefferson Auditorium</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Our future flies on the wings of
pollinators.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>