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<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>Private Forests News members:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns
= "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>Take a moment to consider the role <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State><st1:PersonName
w:st="on">'</st1:PersonName>s private landowners serve in the battle controlling
the spread of invasive plant species within our state. Governor Kulongoski has
declared May 17-23 as Oregon Invasive Weed Awareness Week.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>An invasive species is a non-native species of plant, animal or organism
whose introduction can cause economic or environmental harm, or poses harm to
human health. Native species refers to those plant species originally living,
growing, or produced in an ecosystem within their historic range.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>Once established, the economic impacts from invasive species become
dramatic. Scotch broom was once thought to be an attractive roadside plant;
however by 2000 almost $45 million of economic losses or costs <SPAN
class=890424816-18052009>in Oregon </SPAN>could be attributed to the small
yellow flower.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>Effective invasive species management requires intervention at several
stages:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>• Prevention</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>• Early detection</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>• Eradication</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>• Control and management</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>• Restoration</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>• Public education</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>The Oregon Department of Forestry contributes to the control of invasive
species in several ways –</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"><FONT
size=2>Forestry Program for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>In developing the 2003 Forestry Program for <st1:State
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State>, the Oregon Board of Forestry recognized that
invasive species could detract from achieving sustainability in forest
management in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>. Invasive species strategies are
included in the Board’s Strategic Plan.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>Insect and Disease Monitoring</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>ODF Private Forests staff monitor <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>’s forests from the air and at ground
level to detect the presence of invasive plants and insects, and begin treatment
early when the spread of invasive species can be contained.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>Protecting State Forestlands</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>ODF has an active program to prevent and control invasive plants on
ODF-managed state forestlands.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>Protecting Private Forestlands</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"><FONT
size=2><SPAN class=890424816-18052009>ODF stewardship</SPAN> foresters
assist forest landowners in identifying, preventing, and controlling invasive
plants.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"><FONT
size=2><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>
Invasive Species Council</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>ODF gained a seat on the state’s coordination council in 2008. The
Council, created by the legislature in 2002, creates a forum for state agencies,
local governments, universities, industries and other groups involved in
invasive species management to coordinate their management efforts into the
Oregon Invasive Species Action Plan.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"><FONT
size=2><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>
Plan for Salmon and Watersheds</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>The mission of the Oregon Plan is to restore native fish populations and
the aquatic systems that support them to productive and sustainable levels. ODF
has been a partner with landowners on the Plan since its inception.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>Additional information is available about invasive species on the Oregon
Department of Forestry web site:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>Information about forest health management</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><A
href="http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/privateforests/fhInvasives.shtml"><FONT
face="Courier New"
size=2>http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/privateforests/fhInvasives.shtml</FONT></A></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>Additional information for landowners about noxious weed
control</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><A
href="http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/privateforests/IncentivesWeed.shtml"><FONT
face="Courier New"
size=2>http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/privateforests/IncentivesWeed.shtml</FONT></A></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>The Oregon Invasive Species Council web site:</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><A
href="http://www.oregoninvasiveshotline.org"><FONT face="Courier New"
size=2>www.oregoninvasiveshotline.org</FONT></A></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=2></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
class=890424816-18052009><FONT size=2>Kevin Weeks</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
class=890424816-18052009><FONT size=2>Public Information Officer / Private
Forests Division </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
class=890424816-18052009><FONT size=2>Oregon Department of Forestry
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
class=890424816-18052009><FONT size=2><A
href="mailto:kweeks@odf.state.or.us">kweeks@odf.state.or.us</A></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
class=890424816-18052009><FONT size=2>(503)
945-7427</FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>