Project Profile: Increase Native Seed Bank to Support Alaska Parks

Wild geranium at Kenai Fjords National Park.

NPS Photo

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
National Seed Strategy | FY22 $88,000

The National Park Service will increase the quantity and quality of site-specific native seed for use in restoration and rehabilitation projects in Alaskan national parks. Seeds will be collected, cleaned, grown to produce more seed, and stored for future use. Restoration of freshwater systems and rehabilitation of hazard mine sites are priorities for native seed use. This project supports a collaborative effort among public and private partners across Alaska to increase native seed availability.

Why? The availability of native seeds in Alaska is limited. Most seeds are imported from the lower 48 states or are gathered locally as projects arise. Increasing the varieties of plant species collected, and number of seeds collected for each species will support a more sustainable approach to restoration of native plant communities.

What Else? Healthy native plant communities are the foundation for healthy ecosystems, which benefit people, plants, animals, and our shared environment. This project facilitates the shift to a more sustainable method for native seed management in Alaska and supports the National Seed Strategy.

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.