UBCB Scientists Warn Against Invasive Species (Jan 31, 2012)
University of California - Santa Barbara. Daily Nexus.
A recent study (Global change, global trade, and the next wave of plant invasions) led by scientists at UC Santa Barbara's National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis demonstrated how globalization and the demand for drought-resistant plant species threaten to overcome native plants in the U.S. Based on these findings, the scientists proposed that bio-imports be screened before entering the U.S.

USDA Seeks Suggestions to Implement Section 10201 of the 2008 Farm Bill (PDF | 107 KB) (Jan 30, 2012)
USDA. APHIS. Plant Protection and Quarantine.
APHIS will be gathering input and
accepting suggestions to implement Section 10201 ("Plant Pest and Disease Management
and Disaster Prevention") of the 2008 Farm Bill. This input will be used to inform the development of an FY 2012 Spending Plan. The suggestion period closes Mar 2, 2012; the final FY 2012 spending plan will be released late Apr 2012 (tentative).

North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 5.5 Million From White-nose Syndrome (Jan 17, 2012)
DOI. Fish and Wildlife Service.
On the verge of another season of winter hibernating bat surveys, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists and partners estimate that at least 5.7 million to 6.7 million bats have now died from white-nose syndrome. Biologists expect the disease to continue to spread.

Salazar Announces Ban on Importation and Interstate Transportation of Four Giant Snakes that Threaten Everglades (Jan 17, 2012)
DOI. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a rule that would ban the importation and interstate transportation of four nonnative constrictor snakes that threaten the Everglades and other sensitive ecosystems across the U.S. The final rule -- which incorporates public comments, economic analysis, and environmental assessment -- lists the Burmese python, the yellow anaconda, and the northern and southern African pythons as injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act in order to restrict their spread in the wild in the U.S.

National Ocean Policy Draft Implementation Plan (Jan 12, 2012)
The White House. President Barack Obama. National Ocean Council.
As part of President Obama's National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes, the National Ocean Council has released a draft National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan (PDF | 729 KB) to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes. The draft Implementation Plan describes more than 50 actions the Federal Government will take to improve the health of the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. Our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes are subject to substantial pressures and face significant environmental challenges, including those resulting from invasive species. Public comment period is open until Feb 27, 2012.