INR Projects related to biology or ecology:

ODFW Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy -- The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) provided funds to ORNHIC to obtain data and provide technical assistance for the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. ODFW is developing this strategy to protect fish and wildlife in Oregon and be eligible to compete for federal and state wildlife grants.

Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center -- The Institute has completed agreements with the Oregon Department of State Lands and The Nature Conservancy to assume managerial responsibility for the Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center (ORNHIC).

Oregon Explorer -- Oregon Explorer is a natural resources digital library and web portal. The goal is to provide easy, rapid access to reliable, up-to-date information about natural resources, empowering citizens through information. INR is developing the Oregon Explorer in collaboration with Oregon State University Libraries and other partners including the University of Oregon's InfoGraphics Lab, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and other state agencies. The Oregon Explorer family of websites brings together several projects focused on different themes. Basin-level portals include the the Willamette Basin Explorer (part of the Willamette Basin Conservation Project), the North Coast Explorer, and the Umpqua Basin Explorer. The Wildfire Risk Explorer is the first topic portal in the Explorer family. The Oregon Explorer program is in the process of developing additional topic portals hosting information about imagery, land use, and wildlife. Read more about these component projects on INR's Oregon Explorer page.

Oregon Natural Heritage Plan and the Rare,Threatened, and Endangered Species of Oregon Guides -- Two guides published by ORNHIC describing the riparian and wetlands vegetation in eastern and northwestern Oregon will simplify the collection of riparian vegetation information and help identify species to be used in riparian restoration. The 2003 update to the Oregon Natural Heritage Plan outlines the operation of the state’s Natural Areas Program, including the adoption of new ecoregional boundaries and major revisions of the geology and species sections. The 2004 update of Rare,Threatened, and Endangered Species of Oregon describes the status of all species in Oregon. Published every three years, the information is the basis of the BLM and USFS Sensitive Species program.

OWEB Acquisition Prioritization -- ORNHIC completed a project for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) to develop priorities for evaluating acquisition projects. ORNHIC identified priority ecological systems, species and rare plant communities in each of 15 Oregon basins.

SageMap -- The decision to list the western sage grouse as a threatened species is pending. ORNHIC received funding to expand the agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Boise Lab to map sage grouse habitat in the Pacific Northwest, which will be essential for evaluating the grouse’s status.

Salmon Anchor Habitat Project -- Managing Northwest Oregon state forests for diverse values has proved contentious. Some groups argue that timber production should be the primary purpose of these forests and that forest plans restrict timber harvesting too much. Others contend that forest plans do not adequately protect the best remaining coastal salmon habitats. Ultimately, the 2003 Oregon Legislature directed the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to review its Salmon Anchor Habitat strategy for Northwest Oregon state forests, focusing on its scientific basis, effectiveness, and revenue implications. ODF asked the Institute to convene a Work Group mandated by the Legislature to assure an unbiased approach to the review. INR staff designed a process based on the “consensus conference” model to engage the stakeholders directly with 14 scientific experts, provided research and report writing and moderated a series of meetings, culminating with a final report to the Legislature.

Watershed Indicators -- A major problem faced in watershed restoration is determining the results achieved by various projects across a basin. OWEB turned to INR to develop standardized watershed indicators for Oregon. INR organized several workshops with experts on monitoring and the development of indicators and completed a comprehensive literature review in the process of developing a recommended set of indicators.