More than 900 individuals from 25+ countries registered for the March 8, 2022, Native Seed in Restoration Workshop, which brought together experts working in seed-based restoration around the world to discuss key elements of the native seed supply chain. This virtual event was organized by the International Network for Seed-based Restoration, the Nature Conservancy, SER, and the US Bureau of Land Management, with assistance from the Great Basin Fire Science Exchange.
Presentations fell into three topic areas:
Native seed programs at international, national, and regional levels are addressing the challenges of creating and maintaining effective native seed supply chains:
Danilo Urzedo, Brazil: Emerging seed supply chains in Brazil include successful regional networks of stakeholders operating under diverse organizational models and require incentives to recognize and strengthen local networks. Seed collectors are primarily community-led businesses and collect 91 tonnes of native seed per year. Political support is essential to support the future development of the native seed industry.
Jojanneke Bijkerk, Netherlands: The European Native Seed Producers Association, established in 2018 now counts 21 seed production companies from across Europe as members. Members share information on business organization and management; native seed biology, production, and restoration use; and seek to improve communications with research and governments.
Peggy Olwell, USA: The 2015 National Seed Strategy was developed by 12 federal agencies to identify goals and objectives for improving the supply of genetically appropriate seeds needed to re-establish diverse native communities. Summaries of more than 500 projects in 52 states and territories were submitted for the 2020 Progress report.
Paul Gibson-Roy, Australia: A recently completed Australian National Seed Survey characterized the native seed industry as having a small workforce, limited capacity, and not positioned to meet increasing future needs. Seed production areas are small, but there is potential for expansion.
Alexis Larson, Oregon, USA: Native seed partnerships can increase the availability of native seed for specific seed zones or other biogeographic areas, increase the number of species and genetic diversity available, and reduce costs. Partners can share experiences and knowledge.
Assessing native seed needs, seed sourcing, and efficient procurement methods are essential to providing high-quality seeds of genetically appropriate sources when needed.
Kevin Badik, Nevada, USA: Development of a seed needs planning product for Nevada includes identification of priority species by the community for seed mixes, analysis of past fires and fire predictions to enable seed procurement plans.
Anne Halford, Idaho, USA: Use of the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract for forward contracting production of native plant materials for the Bureau of Land Management.
Vicky Erickson, Oregon, USA: Planning, sourcing, and procurement of restoration to increase the scale and success of restoration in the Pacific Northwest. New funding from the Infrastructure bill and disaster relief funding for post-fire restoration will greatly facilitate native seed procurement and use.
Advancements in seed technology can improve establishment under stressful wildland conditions.
Olga Kildisheva, Oregon, USA: The Nature Conservancy is conducting collaborative projects to understand native seed needs and availability, develop seed technologies to overcome barriers to establishment, and improve restoration planning through geospatial modelling
Alex Larson, Utah, USA: Development and application of a time-release gibberellic acid seed coating for improving the establishment of species with physiological seed dormancy.
Simone Pedrini, West Australia: Seed pelleting is performed to increase the size, and weight of small seeds, without impacting the seeds’ germination potential. The size and shape of small-seeded Australian native species is increased until they are comparable to that of crops species (e.g. canola), so that native seed mixes can be easily and rapidly deployed using traditional agricultural seeding equipment.
Maggie Eshleman, Wyoming, USA: Improving forb availability in Wyoming: Beginning with forb dormancy break
Jessie Griffen, USA: 2021 Herbicide protection seed technology using activated carbon seed coatings and a rangeland drill trial at Juniper Hills preserve
Lauren Svejcar, Oregon, USA: A new perspective and approach to ecosystem restoration: A seed enhancement technology guide and case study.
The entire workshop and individual presentations are available online:
A resource document containing links to resources shared during the presentation and a copy of the webinar Q&A are also available.