The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kemmerer Field Office (KFO) is collecting native plant seeds for the third year as part of the BLM’s Seeds of Success (SOS) program. The seed collecting effort this year will be focused on species which occur above 7,000 feet in elevation because of severe drought conditions.
The BLM has contracted with botanist Denise Wilson to collect 10,000 to 20,000 seeds each of 30 species of native forbs, grasses and shrubs. Utah Conservation Corps crews, BLM employees and volunteers will assist with these collections. All collections are done by hand; with a crew of 8-10 workers an estimated 10,000 seeds can be collected in just a few hours.
SOS is part of the Native Plant Materials Development Program established by Congress in 2001 after the severe wildfire seasons of 1999 and 2000. Native forb, grass and shrub seeds are collected for long-term storage and use in conservation and reclamation. These native seeds are beneficial because they provide genetic diversity and ecological resilience and their ability to compete with non-native species is critical to offset the effects of climate change, wildfire and drought.
The BLM has contracted with botanist Denise Wilson to collect 10,000 to 20,000 seeds each of 30 species of native forbs, grasses and shrubs. Utah Conservation Corps crews, BLM employees and volunteers will assist with these collections. All collections are done by hand; with a crew of 8-10 workers an estimated 10,000 seeds can be collected in just a few hours.
SOS is part of the Native Plant Materials Development Program established by Congress in 2001 after the severe wildfire seasons of 1999 and 2000. Native forb, grass and shrub seeds are collected for long-term storage and use in conservation and reclamation. These native seeds are beneficial because they provide genetic diversity and ecological resilience and their ability to compete with non-native species is critical to offset the effects of climate change, wildfire and drought.
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