The Director of Agriculture has the responsibility to protect and conserve the native plants of this state that are threatened species or endangered species. In carrying out that responsibility, the director:

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(1) Shall conduct investigations of plant species native to this state and determine whether any such species is a threatened species or an endangered species.

(2) By rule, shall establish and publish, and from time to time may revise, a list of plant species that are threatened species or endangered species.

(3) By rule, shall establish programs for the protection and conservation of plant species that are threatened species or endangered species. As used in this subsection, ‘conservation’ means the use of methods and procedures necessary to bring a species to the point at which the measures provided under ORS § 564.105 to 564.120 are no longer necessary. The methods and procedures include, but are not limited to, activities associated with scientific resources management such as research, census, law enforcement, habitat acquisition and maintenance, propagation and transplantation.

(4) By rule, shall establish a system of permits for scientific taking of threatened species and endangered species under terms and conditions that the director determines will minimize the impact on the species taken.

(5) Shall cooperate with the State Fish and Wildlife Commission in carrying out the provisions of ORS § 496.172.

(6) Shall adopt administrative rules to carry out the provisions of ORS § 564.105 to 564.120.

(7) Shall set priorities for establishing programs under this section after consideration of available funds and the immediacy and seriousness of the threat to any listed species. [1987 c.686 § 9; 2009 c.11 § 77]