Douglas, L. (2023, January 26). U.S. native seed shortage hinders land restoration -report. Reuters. Retrieved January 28, 2023, from https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-native-seed-shortage-hinders-land-restoration-report-2023-01-26/
A report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) finds that the US lacks enough native seeds to restore environments hit by wildfires and natural disasters. This is important because wildfires are becoming more severe lately, leading the Biden administration to triple funding for the U.S. Forest Service’s restoration efforts. Native seeds are key in restoration efforts because they are suited to local animals and insects after thousands of years of coexistence. Thus, they are more likely than other plants to survive in the future in those places.
This article relates to environmental science because it shows human’s efforts to restore natural habitats around them, and the problems they encounter. Humans are involved in their ecosystems, as evidenced by native seed suppliers, who government agencies come to in case of emergency. It is also important to note that many weather-related events causing environmental damage are a result of human-induced climate change. This article was a little surprising to me. I had never known there was a market for habitat-specific seeds and that it could be strained. I am glad the federal government aims to restore environments to their pre-disaster conditions, and hope they can establish a relationship with native seeds suppliers in order to make this happen.
This information is surprising, and a bit worrying, especially since wildfires are only set to increase in frequency and severalty as owing to climate change. How effective has the increased funding for the US Forest Services restoration efforts been?
From what I’ve found on the internet, this funding toward forest nursery and native seed partnerships has had a positive impact. Native seeds nurseries report that they are able to yield much more seedlings.
My first thought after reading this was: what will the US look like in the future? If we cannot maintain or replenish our natural habitats, will this mean an increase in possible species endangerment or extinction?
Thanks for the comment! This is also a big concern of mine. We’re already seeing threatened biodiversity and extinction. We ought to prevent more land from becoming depleted, otherwise this destruction will only multiply.
If the federal government establishes a good relationship with the native seed suppliers, how much would it help this issue. I find it interesting that we would lack native seeds. Beyond the relationship status, what are other issues that prevent us from reaching that goal?
That’s also a question I’m left having. I think if the government can identify at-risk sites, then maybe suppliers can stock up on seeds for those locations. Not 100% sure, though…
It is interesting that we don’t have a lot of native seeds left in areas. How do we restore the native seeds so native plants can keep growing.
I think the issue is that we have native seeds, but suppliers are overwhelmed with requests in the case of disaster. If we can improve government-supplier communication lines, then recovery efforts will be improved.
Given that the US government relies on these suppliers post emergency, is there any way to use these suppliers to attack and protect pre emergency to ensure it doesn’t happen at all? Can we plant different or more plants in advance?
What do you mean attack and protect? I think the government can identify regions at risk of wildfire but I guess not everything is predictable. For those at-risk sites, I definitely think suppliers can prepare by stocking up. I think planting seeds in advance wouldn’t work because plants would be destroyed.
Like for example, seed nurseries can plant more seeds.