SUMMIT ON INVASIVE INSECT PESTS TO BE HELD AUGUST 5th - 7th IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

SALEM, Oregon - The Oregon Invasive Species Council is excited to announce “Safeguarding Oregon: Understanding Invasive Insect Pests,” a three-day summit hosted by Clean Water Services in Hillsboro from Monday through Wednesday, Aug.5-7. Anyone interested in state efforts to protect commercial resources, urban tree canopies, culturally significant species, and natural areas from invasive insect pests is invited to attend.

Each day, pest management staff from involved agencies will cover the successes and challenges of tackling insect threats facing the state. Participants will learn in presentations and in field visits about the risks of taking no action, as well as what management resources and strategies are needed to protect Oregon’s people and economy from insect pests.

The summit is especially geared to regional, state, and local government decision-makers, resource managers, landowners and others potentially affected by invasive insect pests.

“Eradication is ideal but not always possible,” said Chris Benemann, Business Operations Manager for the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture. “So we’ll also highlight at the summit how slowing pest spread can be a critical step in the protection of agriculture, natural resources, and urban landscapes.”

Participants will leave with knowledge about current and future threats as well as an understanding of what needs to be done to improve Oregon’s capacity for dealing with the economic and ecological risks posed by invasive insects.

Participants can choose to attend all three days or register for individual events. Due to space limitations, pre-registration is requested. For more information or to register, go to https://www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org/oisc-summer-summit

Day One: Monday, Aug. 5th

The program will focus on the state’s Japanese beetle response. It includes a half-day information session followed by a visit to a local beetle treatment site in Washington County.

Day Two: Tuesday, Aug. 6th

Over the course of this full-day event, presenters will give an overview of Oregon’s main insect pest threats and management strategies. Six species of special interest to Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties, and the Willamette Valley will be highlighted:

· Spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth)

· Japanese beetle

· Emerald ash borer

· Mediterranean oak borer

· Spotted lanternfly

· Japanese cedar longhorned beetle

Day Three: Wednesday, Aug. 7th

The day will begin with an informative field tour to visit ground zero of the emerald ash borer response in Forest Grove and wrap up in the afternoon with the Oregon Invasive Species Council’s quarterly business meeting.

About the Oregon Invasive Species Council | www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org

The Oregon Invasive Species Council was created by the Legislature in 2001 (ORS 561.685).
The mission of the Council is to conduct a coordinated and comprehensive effort to keep invasive species out of Oregon and to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate the impacts of invasive species already established in Oregon.
More information is available at www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org

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SUMMIT ON INVASIVE INSECT PESTS TO BE HELD AUGUST 5th - 7th IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

Oregon Invasive Species Council