Project Profile: Increase Native Seed Production for Intermountain Region Parks

Seed collection at Grand Teton National Park

NPS Photo

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
National Seed Strategy | FY22 $220,000

The National Park Service will increase readily available supplies of genetically appropriate native seeds to support grassland, sagebrush, and southwestern desert restoration and climate adaptation in Intermountain Region parks. Partnerships between federal agencies, state conservation corps, universities, and Tribes will support youth involvement in the collection and development of native seed for restoration projects. Funds will also be used to invest in equipment and supplies for seed collection, cleaning, propagation, and storage.

Why? Native seed is needed for ecological restoration and best restoration practices call for using seed from the same seed zone. Rising demand for native seed is driven by disturbances to native plant communities by climate change induced weather events and wildfires.

What Else? Grand Teton National Park, Zion National Park, Saguaro National Park, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument will significantly increase seed stores of important native species to support restoration needs of at least eight parks in three states (AZ, UT, WY). Healthy native plant communities are the foundation for healthy ecosystems, which benefit people, plants, animals, and our shared environment.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – Ecosystem Restoration

This project was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – Ecosystem Restoration, signed on November 15, 2021. It is a historic investment in the restoration and protection of the environment.