This multi-day event aims to bring together members of the invasive insect pest management community to engage with, educate, and inform regional, state, and local government decision-makers and resource managers about efforts to protect Oregon’s commercial resources, urban tree canopies, culturally significant species, and natural areas from invasive insect pests. Each day will include examples of both the successes and challenges of tackling insect pest management facing the state. Participants will learn about the risks of no action as well as the management requirements needed to protect Oregon’s varied resources from insect pest threats. The summit seeks to highlight practical management themes such as the value of establishing transparent collaboration efforts and how slowing pest spread can be a critical step in the protection of agriculture, natural resources, and urban landscapes.

Decision-makers, elected officials, and other participants will leave with knowledge about current and future threats as well as an understanding of what can be done to improve Oregon’s capacity for dealing with the economic and ecological risks posed by invasive insects.

Events

Day One will focus on the status of the state’s Japanese beetle response and includes a ½ day information session followed by a visit to a local beetle treatment site.

Day Two, our main event, the Insect Pest Summit, will provide an overview of insect pest threats and management strategies. Six species of special interest to the greater Portland metropolitan area and the Willamette Valley will be highlighted: the spongy moth, Japanese beetle, emerald ash borer, Mediterranean oak borer, spotted lanternfly, and Japanese cedar longhorned beetle.

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

Participants can choose to attend all three days or register for individual events. Due to space limitations, pre-registration is requested.

To learn more and register, visit: https://www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org/oisc-summer-summit