WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced that the Senate approved $1.6 million to continue and expand use of existing techniques to control brown tree snakes and prevent their introduction to Hawaii, while at the same time conducting additional research to develop and implement new and better control methods.

"I am most pleased that the Senate recognizes that the brown tree snake is a major threat to the biodiversity of the Pacific region and other areas at risk. High densities of snakes occur in many urban areas on Guam where cargo is loaded for transport by air and sea to other Pacific islands. Dispersal has been documented by snakes discovered in Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and even in the continental United States. Current techniques offer no known method for ridding Guam of its well-established snake population. In addition, on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, more than 30 brown tree snakes have been reported during the past 10 years, and it is likely that a small population has become established there. We can wait no longer to focus on this enormous threat, which has virtually destroyed the native bird species on Guam," stated Senator Inouye.

In recognition of the major ecological, economical and human threat from brown tree snakes, the Congress authorized a cooperative program to control brown tree snakes. Representatives from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, and the Interior, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Territory of Guam, and the State of Hawaii formed the Brown Tree Snake Control Committee to develop an integrated pest management approach to address the problem. Last year, the Control Committee approved a final version of the Brown Tree Snake Control Plan that outlines an integrated, 5-year program designed to continue and enhance efforts to deal with this dangerous pest.

In addition, Senator Inouye secured $1 million for Phase III construction of the Keeauhou Bird Conservation Center on the Big Island. This project has four phases with an anticipated cost of $4 million. Phase I funding of $1.5 million was provided in Fiscal Year 1994, and opened in October 1996. Phase II funding of $1 million was provided in Fiscal Year 1996 and will be completed in mid-1997. Phase IV is planned but not scheduled and is expected to total $500,000.

"By virtue of their geographic isolation, unique forms of plant and animal life have evolved in the Hawaiian Islands. However, during recent years, the continuing decline of many native species has reached the critical point. As home to over one-third of the United States' endangered birds and plants, Hawaii is bestowed with the dubious honor of being the endangered species capital of our nation. The Fish and Wildlife Service and The Peregrine Fund are working to reverse this trend. To date, The Peregrine Fund has successfully hatched a total of 110 native Hawaiian forest birds, including the `alala, the palila, the puaiohi, the akohekohe, the Maui parrotbill and the Hawaii creeper at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center, " said Senator Inouye.

These provisions are included in the Fiscal Year 1998 Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which will now face a joint House-Senate Conference and final Senate vote before its transmittal to the White House.