Climate Conversations: Native Seeds

Across the country, native plants, or plants that grow naturally in a specific region or ecosystem, provide key goods and services to surrounding communities. Native plants are crucial in maintaining bird, fish, and animal populations and help stabilize the soil. Notably, native plants also help mitigate the impacts of extreme events like floods and wildfires because of their tolerance to ambient conditions.

For federal, state, and tribal agencies, maintaining a supply of seeds from native plants is a major challenge. Without native seeds, efforts to regenerate or bolster land affected by extreme weather events, invasive plants, and other hazards can be ineffective. Susan Harrison (University of California, Davis) moderated a conversation between Kay Havens (Chicago Botanic Garden) and Carol Capobianco (SUNY Westchester Community College) exploring the value of native seeds, strategies for shoring up their supply, and opportunities for regional partnerships.