By Tom Elder (Plant Photography Project, Taxonomy Standards Chair)
On October 1 the CNPS Plant Photography Working Group initiated a new email based discussion group at www.CNPS.org. The Plant Photography group is developing standards for a fully digital library of images for use by scientists, authors, and others in need of high quality images of our state's native plants and CNPS activities in general. One especially interesting part of the project will be an effort to record a photographic taxonomy of our most endangered species (multiple diagnostic views of each species -- sort of a photographic counterpart to Jepson's).
The discussion group is organized as an email "forum" with members receiving a copy of all postings and having their own messages distributed to the entire forum membership in turn. If you think this sounds interesting, you can take a look at our new web page at
You'll find us under Plant Science -- Photography. Be sure to check out the Position Papers at the bottom of the page -- they'll give you a little better idea of the overall organization of the project.
If you think you might like to help organize the project, join the forum by sending an email to
Put the word subscribe in the "subject" box and you'll receive a Welcome message when you've been added to the member list. We'd love to hear from you.
other values, such as recreation and biodiversity.
CDFA has reassigned some of its 12 biocontrol scientists plus support staff and may reassign more. Not only will projects underway be discontinued, nearly everything invested will be lost. It will be difficult and expensive to restart the projects, as the scientists will have dispersed and the continuity lost.
Weed Management Areas (WMAs) are new cooperative entities which have exploded over the state, creating venues for all public and private landowners and citizen volunteers to come together to address problems that seriously affect the economic welfare and quality of life of everyone. Cuts in biocontrol and eradication programs would deal a body-blow to WMAs.
In the form of the Craig-Daschle bill, S. 198, bipartisan national support for local weed control efforts seems about to happen, and California, with its WMAs, is well-positioned to benefit from it. Is it possible this will happen just as California is jerking the rug from beneath the WMAs?
Very diverse groups--e.g., CA Farm Bureau, CNPS, CA Exotic Pest Plant Council, CA Cattlemen's Assn, Regional Council of Rural Counties, The Nature Conservancy, CA Forest Council, wildlife groups, &c--have come together in the past year to develop a comprehensive education and legislative program to address the weed problem on a statewide level. CDFA agreed to provide information and support for the group, known as CA Invasive Weed Awareness Coalition (CALIWAC). Cuts could have a devastating impact on CALIWAC, depriving it of CDFA's crucial support.
Congratulate CDFA on showing commendable responsiveness to the changing nature of the times as it moved from an exclusive preoccupation with agriculture to a broadened focus including wildland and rangeland weeds. It should not turn back the clock.
It strengthens your letter to cite on-the-ground problems in your area and the potential effects of ignoring them. It is important that your letter reflects your local problems, so use this report only as suggested.
Write: William Lyons Jr, Secretary
California Department of Food and Agriculture
1220 N Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Be sure to cc your assembly representative and state senator.
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