Restoring forgotten Grasslands of the Southeast
SGI native seed program
Gus Rasich, Theo Witsell, Jeremy French, Marcello DeVitis, Phoebe Judge, Dwayne Estes, Layla Dunlap
What is SGI? What’s going on with grasslands?
“Grasslands are the most threatened and least protected biome.”
(Carbutt, 2020; Suttie et al., 2005)
What is SGI? What’s going on with grasslands?
“Grasslands are the most threatened and least protected biome.”
(Carbutt, 2020; Suttie et al., 2005)
Ecosystem Services
Threats to Grasslands
Goals of the Southeastern Native Seed Program
Production
Seed Cleaning
Research
Seed Banking
Reintroduction
Seed Shortage
There is not enough seed supply to meet the demands of grassland restoration projects.
Some species are commercially available, but many are overlooked.
Research has shown that matching seeds and restoration sites by ecotype leads to more successful restorations.
Seeds of Success & Plant It Forward
SOS’ Role in Seeds of Success
Challenge 1
reporting population data
CONTRACTORS
Scouting Populations
Collection
SGI and Plant it Forward
Small Target Population Sizes
California population of Monolopia lanceolata
TN population of Grindelia lanceolata, covering <100 acres
Image credit: Collection team CA930D, Seeds of Success
CHALLENGES
SolutionS
Scouting New Populations, Making Connections with Private Landowners
Photo from Best Hope Farms, Dickson TN
Army training area collection
Working with Farmers & Private Landowners
Future production
We must prevent genetic diversity loss in every stage of collection, share knowledge within the native seed community, and produce seed responsibly
From article: Producing native plant
materials for restoration: 10 rules to
collect and maintain genetic diversity by
Basey et. Al in Native Plants Journal:
“RULE 1. Identify sources with conditions similar
to potential restoration sites.”
“RULE 2. Collect from sites with large populations.”
“RULE 3. Leave no genetic stone unturned.”
“RULE 4. Prevent loss of viable seeds during cleaning.”
“RULE 5. Use optimal storage conditions.”
“RULE 6. Diversify seed germination conditions.”
“RULE 7. Lessen the impacts of plant maintenance.”
“RULE 8. Minimize unintended hybridization.”
“RULE 9. Vary timing of seed harvests.”
“RULE 10. Limit the number of generations during
which plants are exposed to controlled production conditions.”
Adrienne C Basey, Jeremie B Fant, Andrea T Kramer
Native Plants Journal Mar 2015, 16 (1) 37-53; DOI: 10.3368/npj.16.1.37
Solutions
Germination studies, knowledge sharing with similar groups
What’s Next for the SGI Native Seed Program?
Continue scouting and collecting for PIF and SOS
Focus on reaching 400 reintroductions across TN
Continue germination studies & share results
Work on bulk collection and strategies for production plots at SGI properties
Get involved!