A day in the life of a rare plant hunter is more than just a walk in the woods.

Botanists Gretchen Vos and Rachel Werling visited the Southern Oregon University science building Thursday to discuss their professions and responsibilities. The presentation allowed audience interaction and insight into the role of botanists involved in environmental decisions being made in Oregon.

“Experienced botanists are really a valuable asset,” Werling said.

Werling and Vos are independent botanists, who primarily work on contracts that are put out by the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and private landowners.

“We mostly work on BLM lands,” Vos said.

Recently the two have been involved with a scientific survey of the proposed Liquid Natural Gas pipe line, which would run underground from Coos Bay to an existing California pipeline south of Klamath Falls. According to Vos, they not only take surveys of plant life but also provide species lists to the BLM or USFS.

“We are the arms and legs of the agency,” said Vos.

The data collections contribute to government research and help determine what the possible effects of something like the LNG pipeline construction may be. If there is a large population of rare plants or rare species in a certain area, the surveys that Werling and Vos provide will allow agencies to weigh the environmental impact of suggested projects like logging, road construction and cattle grazing.

Though they described their job as an enjoyable walk through the woods, both admitted that sometimes it’s tough. Werling noted that surveying in year old forest fires was one of the less fun jobs as plant life in old burn areas is scarce.

“It’s mostly noxious weeds,” Vos said.

When a member of the audience asked why the botanists were surveying in near barren areas like old burns, Kristi Mergenthaler, program coordinator and a botanist who has worked with Vos and Werling quickly answered, “salvage logging.”

Salvage logging is the harvesting of burnt trees after a forest fire. Forest fires that burn hundreds of thousands of acres every year across Oregon leave a sometimes heated debate over whether or not salvage logging should take place.

“Sometimes the ash is six inches deep.” Werling said. “And it’s hot,” said Vos.

The decision usually hinges on the presence of rare plant life, rare species and potential erosion in the area. If the ground is unstable the possibility of a landslide makes the environmental impact of salvaging too great.

The BLM and USFS are involved in a number of projects. Whether it is a construction project or salvaging a forest fire, botanists contribute to the final decision of what should be done.