SALEM, Ore. - Volunteers are urgently needed to collect Oregon ash seeds as part of a major conservation effort led by the USDA Forest Service and Oregon State University.

The initiative aims to protect the genetic diversity of Oregon ash and discover resistance to the emerald ash borer (EAB). According to the USDA Forest Service, seed collection will take place across British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. This effort is crucial as resistance to the EAB, a destructive pest, is extremely rare.

A virtual workshop for potential volunteers is scheduled for Thursday, August 14, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Participants will learn seed collection and shipping protocols. Interested individuals and groups must register in advance.

Collected seeds will be sent to the Dorena Genetic R

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