Expanding plant materials capacity for national parks and refuges in the Southern California/Northern Baja Coast Ecoregion for post fire recovery

Members of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area’s Restoration Program. From left to right: Susi Corona, Tak Chipman, Ben Vizcarra-Barton, Matt Wells, Emily Alvarez, Jia Wiebe, Ngoc Thu Tat, and Erika Lopez.

NPS / J ALGIERS

California’s diverse landscapes and unique climate support more plant and animal species than any other state, making it a biodiversity hotspot. However, threats like extreme wildfires, invasive plants, and climate change jeopardize this richness.

In 2024, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provided $816,000 in funds for a native seed program in Southern California, specifically targeting areas devastated by recent wildfires. This initiative aims to enhance native seed collection and processing to bolster resilience against wildfires.

The project focuses on collaboration among Department of the Interior bureaus to collect and produce the right native seeds to restore and enhance vegetation affected by wildfires. Invasive species, which are on the rise due to frequent fires and climate change, threaten native plants, pollinators, ecosystem health, and visitor experience. Native plants are essential for competing against these invasives and maintaining ecosystem function. The combination of removing the invasive species, while replanting with native species which are more fire resistant, can ensure a more resilient ecosystem that can recover naturally after a wildfire.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area’s 1-acre seed farm at Paramount Ranch after planting.

NPS / J ALGIERS

Managed by the National Park Service (NPS), this project supports wildfire resilience efforts in areas like Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Channel Islands National Park, and Cabrillo National Monument. Plans for 2025 include expanding to nearby wildlife refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Currently, staff at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area are building a seed collection team and improving infrastructure for a 5-acre seed farm at Rancho Sierra Vista, where they are growing 27,000 native plants. Additional biological science technicians are being hired to assist with seed collection and processing for future wildfire readiness.