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<div align="center"><b>FWS: NORTHWEST REGION TO PHASE OUT CHEMICAL LINKED
TO BEE DEATHS <br><br>
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The US Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) Region 1, representing the upper
Northwest United States, announced a phase out of the use of
neonicotinoid pesticides on national wildlife refuge system lands.
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The phase out is based on the agency’s determination that there is a
growing body of scientific evidence to suggest that these pesticides are
contributing to the decline of pollinator populations, including
honeybees. State and territories under the jurisdiction of Region 1
include Washington state, Oregon, Idaho, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.
Region 1 plans to fully phase out the use of the pesticide by
2016.<br><br>
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“The prophylactic use of neonicotinoids and the potential broad-spectrum
adverse effects to non-target species do not meet the intent of
[Integrated Pest Management] principles or the Service's Biological
Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health (BIDEH) policy,” states
the memorandum, released earlier this month.<br><br>
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According to FWS, the decision was an internal management decision not
directly linked to the White House’s June memorandum urging federal
agencies to invest in research that reduces the decline in honeybees and
other pollinators. <br><br>
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Many agricultural and environmental organizations have published studies
highlighting the negative impact neonicotinoids have on various
pollinator species. The June 2013 edition of the Ecological Society of
America’s <i>Frontiers in Ecology and Environment</i> mentioned
neonicotinoids as being among anthropogenic pressures that contribute to
population declines of crop and wild plant pollinators. <br><br>
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View the full FWS memorandum by clicking here:<br><br>
<a href="http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/files/guidelines-for-interim-use-and-phase-out-of-neonicotinoid-insecticides-in-refuge-farming-for-wildlife-programs-signed-kf-7914_67415.pdf">
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/files/guidelines-for-interim-use-and-phase-out-of-neonicotinoid-insecticides-in-refuge-farming-for-wildlife-programs-signed-kf-7914_67415.pdf</a>
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Additional information on the White House memorandum is available by
clicking here:<br><br>
<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/20/presidential-memorandum-creating-federal-strategy-promote-health-honey-b">
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/20/presidential-memorandum-creating-federal-strategy-promote-health-honey-b</a>
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The <i>Frontiers</i> article is available here:<br><br>
<a href="http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/120126">
http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/120126</a> <br>
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