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  • From the Editor

During late July and early August, I had the opportunity to complete a plant collection excursion into some of the mountain ranges along the northern border of the western United States. I traveled with a University of Idaho colleague, Tony McCammon, a county educator from Twin Falls, Idaho. Our varied destinations included the Cabinet Mountains of Montana, the Scotchman Peaks of northern Idaho, and the northern Cascade Range in Washington. Collection of 130 specimens for the Stillinger Herbarium, and 68 seed and live plant samples for my native plant domestication project, gave evidence of success.

During the excursion, opportunities presented themselves to see some spectacular scenery and to observe habitat conditions across a range of publicly managed lands. Generally, conditions were harsh, given extreme drought and resulting parched plant communities. Ecosystems in many places were still thriving and appeared to be functional and balanced, in spite of the dry summer. In other places, especially the north Cascade Range, beetle-ravaged pine trees, dominant stands of invasive plant species, and human-caused disturbances provided evidence of declining ecological health.

Simply observing degenerating ecosystems on many of our public wildlands is a far cry from understanding the causes and cures. Are we seeing early evidence of disruption due to climate change? Are we seeing the long-term impacts of improper fire management? Is the widespread presence of exotic native plants causal or simply part of the symptomology? Can we successfully employ shortterm protocols that will lead to long-term recovery? Can we afford to do nothing? These are complicated questions. Answers will come only from you, the researchers and practitioners of ecosystem sciences.

Sharing what we learn with colleagues is a critical component of success in our field of work. We make progress by building on the knowledge and work of others. Native Plants Journal is an important cog in this process. Keep sending in your articles and adding to the store of knowledge essential to making a difference.

As we wrap up this last issue of 2015, I need to thank some very special people who make this journal possible, namely the Associate Editors. These colleagues give freely of their time to assist each of us with our publication needs and to keep the quality of the journal high. I wish to personally thank Mack Thetford, Steven Smith, Daniela Shebitz, Larry Rupp, Deb Rogers, Rosemary Pendleton, James Muir, Heidi Kratsch, Diane Haase, Kas Dumroese, and Robert Cox. And I can’t go without thanking our Managing Editor, Candace Akins, who is always pulling me out of the proverbial fire. Although I cannot take the space to name them all, I also want the reviewers to know that I truly appreciate their service. Thanks to each of you.


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Stephen Love
Editor-in-Chief

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