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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Dear PCA Colleagues:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Attached is the 2015 Annual Report for one of the USDA Forest Service research programs that places an emphasis on western native plants. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="Pa4" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">In this issue, we take a look at a few of the 2015 research and application studies conducted by scientists and their partners with the Grassland, Shrubland
and Desert Ecosystems Science Program (GSD). Significant results of recent research and science delivery by GSD scientists are highlighted. We feature program research that lines up with the strategic research priorities of the USDA Forest Service and the
Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS). In particular, we spotlight accomplishments in GSD research and technology that addresses:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">• Conservation, restoration and resiliency of sagebrush ecosystems,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">• Availability, adaptation, seed zones and deployment of native plant species.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">• The role of climate in species adaptation, carbon storage, and land management.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:14.0pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">• The effects of disturbances and stressors on ecosystems<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Debbie Finch<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><img width="160" height="65" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D1837F.BD1EE9A0" alt="USDA USFS"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Deborah M. Finch<br>
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#669900">Pr</span></b><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#4F6228">ogram Manager</span></b><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#669900"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Forest Service
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#28742E">Rocky Mountain Research Station<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#28742E">Grasslands Shrublands and Desert Ecosystems<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#555555">p: 505-724-3671<br>
c: 505-401-0580 <br>
f: 505-724-3688 <br>
</span></b><b><u><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#428BCA"><a href="mailto:dfinch@fs.fed.us">dfinch@fs.fed.us</a></span></u></b><b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#555555"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#555555">333 Broadway, SE, Suite 115
<br>
Albuquerque, NM 87102<br>
<a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/"><span style="color:#428BCA">www.fs.fed.us</span></a>
<br>
</span><a href="https://twitter.com/forestservice"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#428BCA;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="19" height="16" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image003.png@01D1837F.BD1EE9A0" alt="Twitter"></span></a><a href="http://facebook.com/USDA"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#428BCA;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="16" height="16" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image004.png@01D1837F.BD1EE9A0" alt="Facebook"></span></a><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#555555"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#28742E">Caring for the land and serving people<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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