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Nearly 200 people gathered in a conference hall near Salem, Ore., to develop a statewide strategy against the insects, plants and animals that can adversely affect -- or already have affected -- the state's economy and environment, The (Portland) Oregonian reported Wednesday.

The ideas to combat the invaders will be compiled into a report for the governor.

"The issue is finally gaining traction with the public and also the leaders", said Dan Hilburn, the Oregon Agriculture Department's plant division administrator. "Invasive species is an issue we can win, because it's mostly generated by the activities of people and it's preventable."

Most of the species most likely arrive on airplanes and ships traveling from states or countries that do business with Oregon, Hilburn said.

However, Hilburn said he received a request recently from a school wanting to import five insects into Oregon, including wood-loving carpenter ants and a termite.

"That's just dumb", he said, because the bugs could inadvertently or intentionally be set loose when they're no longer needed.

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