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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I'm very happy to announce the debut of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> invasive species assessments on
our website,<i><span style='font-style:italic'> NatureServe Explorer</span></i>
: <a href="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/">http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>You'll find assessments for a total 452 non-native plants of the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
searchable by name, location, invasive impact rank (I-Rank), or a combination
of these criteria. Additional assessments will be available in the
fall. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The assessments are the result of applying a systematic protocol (Morse
et al. 2004) to determine the degree of impact an individual non-native species
has on the native plants, animals, and ecosystems of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>. Our hope is
that these objective and transparent assessments will build consensus and
galvanize action.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>You can determine which non-native plants in your area have been ranked
"High" impact, or which are still "Unknown." (For
those unfamiliar with the NatureServe Explorer site: choose to "search
the database for species" and then use the "Location" and
"Status" tabs that you'll see at the top of the page) You can
read the entire assessment for any species and there is a link for providing feedback
that will help us improve the information and refine the I-ranks in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>We are thrilled to finally have these assessments integrated with our
other data in a searchable format. We are especially grateful to the Federal
Highway Administration for supporting this addition to our Explorer site.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Thanks and let us know what you think!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><em><i><font size=2 color="#000053" face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#000053;font-style:normal'>Kat Maybury<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></em></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><em><i><font size=2 color="#000053" face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#000053;font-style:normal'>Director, Botany
Department </span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><em><i><font size=2 color="#000053" face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#000053;font-style:normal'>NatureServe</span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><em><i><font size=2 color="#000053" face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#000053;font-style:normal'>1101 Wilson Blvd.,
15th floor</span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><em><i><font size=2 color="#000053" face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#000053;font-style:normal'>Arlington, VA
22209</span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><em><i><font size=2 color="#000053" face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#000053;font-style:normal'>703-908-1882</span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><em><i><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;color:navy'><a href="mailto:kat_maybury@natureserve.org"><font
size=2 color="#000053"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#000053;font-style:
normal;text-decoration:none'>kat_maybury@natureserve.org</span></font></a></span></font></i></em><font
size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><em><i><u><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;color:navy;font-style:normal'><a
href="http://www.natureserve.org"><i><font size=2 color="#000053"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#000053;font-style:italic'>www.natureserve.org</span></font></i></a></span></font></u></i></em><i><font
size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:navy;font-style:italic'><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><u><font size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;color:navy;font-style:normal'><a
href="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/"><i><font size=2 color="#000053"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#000053;font-style:italic'>www.natureserve.org/explorer/</span></font></i></a></span></font></u></i></em><i><font
size=2 color=navy><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:navy;font-style:italic'><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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