For decades, scientists have warned that conservation and restoration of native plant communities is urgently needed in many natural areas of the U.S. Millions of acres of public and private land are affected by extreme wildfires, floods, drought, invasive plants, and other hazards. When areas are damaged, agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management seek out native seeds to restore plant populations and stabilize ecosystems. This is largely because, unlike nonnative species, native plants have coevolved with native animals in distinctive environments and are often more drought tolerant and foundational for native biodiversity in ecosystems.  

However, the insufficient supply of native seeds currently means that restoration efforts frequently substitute nonnative varieties or native seeds sourced from climatically different environments than where they will be planted — which is often damaging to ecosystem balance and conservation efforts.  

So when a recent National Academies report called for a concerted effort to build a more robust native seed supply and industry, it helped spur important local, state, and federal action.  

“Several years from now, we will look back and credit this report with catalyzing a tipping point,” said David Festa, co-founder of the California Native Seed Supply Collaborative (CNSSC), a regional nonprofit organization that serves as a conduit between growers, NGOs, and California state agencies. “The report brings credibility to solutions that practitioners and growers have been asking for.”  

Festa was among the attendees of the public release webinar for the report, where the committee that wrote the report shared its findings and connected with seed advocates and other stakeholders who are engaged in the goal of creating a more resilient native seed supply for environmental restoration in the United States.  

Regional groups such as CNSSC are essential for meeting the changing needs of the native seed supply. These groups can facilitate communication between suppliers and users of native seeds, support seed storage and sustainable collection, and foster the production of seeds that are genetically suited for specific environments, the report notes.  

For instance, in California, CNSSC is working with the California Department of Transportation to increase efforts to provide multiyear projections of seed needs. As highlighted in the report, such efforts help to align supply and demand, a function that benefits the seed industry without necessarily requiring changes in funding or policy.  

On a federal scale, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced a federal investment of nearly $10 million for reforestation through forest nursery and native seed partnerships. This major investment aligns with the report’s recommendations to strengthen native seed nurseries and restore environments where native seeds can thrive and serve as a seedbank in the wild.  

Committee member Kayri Havens, senior scientist and director of ecology and conservation at the Chicago Botanic Garden, commented, “The NASEM report clearly demonstrated that the limited availability of seed from native plant species is one of the greatest barriers to effective ecological restoration. We hope the report will catalyze wise investment of funds to ensure better management of the critical natural resource so that plants and the planet can thrive.” 

This week, the momentum continues as native seed advocates from around the country gather in Washington, D.C., for the National Native Seed Conference, March 27-30. “The timing is impeccable,” said Festa. “We’re looking forward to connecting with more experts and highlighting for policymakers the practical ways we can increase the supply and cost effectiveness of native seeds.”