 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
APHIS Native American News |
|
 |
|
About APHIS
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is a multi-faceted Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. These efforts support the overall mission of USDA, which is to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues.
Plant Protection and Quarantine
APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program is committed to protecting the health of crops, fields, and forests from coast to coast. PPQ works closely with Native American communities to preserve and promote the value of these resources through cooperative agreements, technical and emergency training, outreach activities, and consultations that ensure APHIS initiatives respect Native American cultural heritage and values.
PPQ also provides early detection for potentially devastating pests, prepares tribal communities for rapid response to plant pest and disease outbreaks, and suppresses outbreaks of rangeland grasshoppers and Mormon crickets.
Veterinary Services
APHIS' Veterinary Services (VS) program is dedicated to protecting the health of animals in agriculture and to fostering safe animal trade worldwide. VS is eager to help Native American communities maintain and promote their valuable livestock and fisheries, keeping them free of disease and pests through technical and emergency training, outreach activities, and consultations in ways that respect Native American cultural heritage and values.
VS is able to help tribal communities with a number of issues they might face, including preventing diseases and pests from harming livestock and fisheries, preparing response plans for animal disease and pest emergencies, and providing information on animal disease traceability and other animal disease programs.
Animal Care
APHIS' Animal Care (AC) program enforces the Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act and provides leadership for determining standards of humane care and treatment of animals. AC helps Native American communities control populations of dogs and cats by providing funding for spay and neuter clinics on their lands. AC also works with tribes that operate zoos or host walking horse competitions to perform inspections.
Wildlife Services
APHIS' Wildlife Services (WS) helps resolve wildlife conflicts to allow people and wildlife to coexist. WS provides technical advice, research and operational assistance to protect human health and safety, property and agricultural and natural resources from damage caused by native wildlife and feral animals. WS can respond to requests from Native American communities to safeguard their agricultural and natural resources.
WS helps communities protect livestock and sensitive wildlife species; reduce wildlife damage to property, crops, and natural resources; and manage invasive species. WS also works cooperatively with Native American communities to manage rabies in wildlife and to monitor and test for diseases in wildlife that might be transmitted to livestock and people.
-
Contact your local WS state office or call 1-866-4USDAWS
Biotechnology Regulatory Services
APHIS' Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) program protects plant health through rigorous regulation of genetically engineered (GE) organisms. BRS provides information about field trials and petitions for non-regulated status of genetically engineered (GE) organisms that may have an impact on Native American communities. BRS is committed to ensuring that these communities have the opportunity to provide input on how these GE products may affect them, their culture, and their lands.
APHIS Emergency Response Role
For nearly 40 years, the central mission of USDA APHIS has been to protect the health and value of U.S. agricultural, natural, and other resources. Safeguarding agriculture is a complex task, and the APHIS strategy is divided into three focused areas: prevention, preparedness, and response. In other words, our job is to make sure we have planned and tested our capabilities in advance and that when faced with an emergency, we can swiftly dispatch the right experts to handle the situation.
APHIS Native American Working Group
The APHIS Native American Working Group (ANAWG) advises APHIS' top management about ways to enhance program delivery and accessibility to tribes, intertribal committees, and related organizations, such as the Intertribal Agriculture Council. The group also facilitates the coordination of active partnerships with tribal governments by providing assistance and advice to the agency's programs.
