Native Seed Strategy Forum
HCC 2024
Introduction
An informal "seed supply" working group held a forum at the 2024 Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference to continue the conversation about the "need for seed" to support restoration goals, from small, community-based projects to landscape-scale post-disturbance response. We provided an initial share-back of the Native Plant Material (NPM) Survey conducted in 2023. We presented the National Seed Strategy (NSS) as an existing framework that could be adapted to build this capacity for Hawaiʻi. Key slides coming soon.
We had brief breakout discussions, with each group focused on one of four categories indicated in the NPM survey as limiting the availability of native plant material. These were 1) facilities, 2) staff skill, 3) field establishment, and 4) mechanisms for the flow of plant materials. Each breakout group was provided with examples derived from action items suggested in the NSS. Groups added details to further develop that action or brainstormed additional solutions to support the development of that key limitation. The groups were encouraged to think about capacity needs, information or other resource needs, and key partners to support the implementation of any suggested action–or describe desired outputs/outcomes. Jump to the Discussion Summaries section of this page to see where each of these conversations leads.
The forum also brought together a diverse panel of folks representing different stakeholders in the Native Plant Material supply chain. Jump to the Panelist Section to see who was gathered, what questions they were asked, and what they shared with the session audience.
Slides coming soon!
Discussion Summaries
Facilities
Seed-extractory facilities
Such facilities serve to increase the capacity to process and store wild collections, stock seed, and bulk seed for medium to short-term restoration. They include warehouse space for seed processing equipment and storage facilities, e.g., walk-in refrigerator coolers. For Hawaiʻi, one central facility may not be appropriate, with questions of where and how many of these facilities would be a) appropriate and b) feasible. More than two staff members for any one facility would be necessary, as they would be responsible for both running and maintaining said facilities. Storage will most likely occur at varying scales, from big to small and include both centralized or decentralized storage spaces. Key partners may include DLNR/DOFAW, UH CTHAR, and federal agencies (e.g., DOI, USFS). Questions of who would maintain the facilities and how they would be shared came up, with an interest in a collective model for processing
Information and resource needs
SOPs describing seed cleaning/processing, propagation protocols for taxa that have not yet been successfully propagated or are especially difficult to propagate, protocols focused on the increased production of native species, and phytosanitation protocols for large-scale production will need to be developed. One information need that arose was a better understanding of how processing may affect germination rates.
Collection and distrabution
There is a need for seed-sharing agreements that incorporate seed biology and viability and ensure communication across partners. Small and large landowners who have access to seed sources and are making collections will be key partners in developing agreements. Storing seeds explicitly to restore source populations in the aftermath of a disturbance–like fire–should be standard. Seed Collection Protocols will be a valuable resource to guide collection practices, and there is a need for a system to maintain consistency for data management.
Expanding and increasing the number of nurseries and
nursery staff. What this expansion looks like should include island-specific needs. As such, increased staff--with horticultural training--will be necessary, but the amount will depend on the scale of facilities and production. Nursery facilities include greenhouses with ventilation and cooling capacity, as well as automated irrigation.
Public agency nurseries can be expanded to service
partnerships and contract-growing agreements can incentivize private nurseries. Ultimately, this will increase the capacity to produce and supply genetically appropriate native plant materials in private and public sectors. The group pointed to Oʻahu Windward Community College as an existing (and exemplar) opportunity for courses and a certification in horticulture of native plants. The focus on knowledge of native plants for horticulture staff was emphasized as a key capacity need for these nursery facilities. Other information needs included an accurate cost of plants and location considerations that would reduce the impact of pests in the nursery.
Collections Management
Concern emerged over shared access, clearer seed zones, the impact of differential collection pressures (e.g., known seed trees), and inconsistent access to areas. Increased communication and transparency about seed sources were emphasized, as well as reducing "competitiveness” among organizations. One group proposed the need for an alternative term for "collection" (harvesting, gathering?).
Additional information and resource needs
that came up in discussion included available producers in the needed environment/climate, good water quality for nurseries, mechanisms for sharing propagation best practices (e.g., a database), and the question of how to produce seeds for broadcasting. The group highlighted the need for off-grid propagation and nurseries and recommended overestimating the plants needed.
Staff Skill
A Scalable Restoration Certificate Program
For land managers and restoration practitioners to take to gain advanced ecological restoration knowledge, and includes developing native plant materials. It could be a certificate offered by one or a few universities. Alternatively, it could be a full certification credential developed by an independent non-profit or a consortium of restoration agencies and organizations. Key partners in Hawaiʻi may include DLNR/DOFAW, Federal agencies (DOI, USFS, US military, etc), conservation organizations, and the University of Hawaiʻi. This would expand training opportunities in ecological restoration and the development of native plant materials. Developing a scalable certification program, that addressed multiple levels, would benefit current and future professionals, as well as support sustainable and respectful practices from any individual or group. Any certification program must be accessible to current and fully employed staff. Additionally, a recertification schedule should be developed to review key points, introduce new/updated information, and enable periodic honing of established skills.
Key partners and examples of existing efforts/frameworks
Some examples include schools growing plants, the nursery/teacher certification program at Windward CC on Oʻahu, Good Jobs Hawaiʻi, or KUPU. The DLNR/DOFAW permit office is another key partner in facilitating access to wild collections, as the interpretation of collection rules varies. Making other existing resources more readily available, such as Growing Hawaiian Plants would be beneficial.
Additional ideas
Training videos for Pono collections, with a target audience of youth, school groups, and other collectors, and complimentary videos for seed processing. These could be a tool for a certification program and provides a pathway for engagement. Another means to foster collaboration across groups is the use of stat tree nurseries/ DOFAW base yards as outreach spaces with centralized collections that can then be easily accessed as a public resource. A centralized seed collection system could further support the need to track plant collections and providence. The establishment of seed production areas was indicated as a potential teaching resource for collectors, as well as valuable research repositories to track and compare phenology with wild populations/individuals. The group also emphasized the value of site visits to exchange ecological restoration knowledge for both managers and individuals. In general, all these ideas provide more opportunities for mentorship and the cultivation of community, both to place and in a common goal to restore native landscapes (with plants, animals, people, and practices).
Field Establishments
Species-Specific production protocals
Developing species-specific protocols for seed and seedling production practices to provide high-quality, genetically diverse products. This action will require funding for applied research opportunities to develop new protocols and the compilation of existing protocols through outreach to agencies and private horticulturists and conservationists. This information is needed to provide users and nurserymen with specifications for producing high-quality seedlings to fit specific planting needs. In Hawaiʻi, specifications are currently lacking for most native species. Conservation organizations, private nursery sector, public and non-profit nurseries, horticulture staff, DLNR/DOFAW, and Federal agencies (DOI, USFS, US Military). Compiling and developing information resources is necessary to expand the production of high-quality, genetically diverse native plant products. This will also require research staff and skilled labor to complete.
Increase in the supply of shrubs and trees
This action will require access to land and staff tasked with increasing the production of said shrub and tree seed. Actuating this step will require a review of regulations that control the establishment of seed reserves or planted seed orchards on wildland sites (permitting, contracting, etc), as well as a review of the existing research and regulations on alternative production methods. It will also necessitate the testing of alternative field production methods. The NSS suggests that private landowners and seed growers could also establish such reserves and orchards. Ultimately, establishing well-managed seed production areas will facilitate a supply of tree and shrub trees to meet our restoration needs. Methods include use of green breaks as seed production areas, roadside spaces through partnerships with DOT, and partnering with agricultural produces for seed production. Overall, establishing a mechanism to produce seeds can increase the volume and diversity of a native seed supply, as well as more consistent seed yields, thus supporting the restoration of more resilient forests and biocultural spaces, and may even contribute to reductions in fire risk
Developing a land base
This will require facilitators, MOU templates, and protocols for agricultural production. Key partners include private, state, and non-profit entities. Doing so will lead to access to land and could facilitate longer land leases and more areas in production. Ultimately, a seed strategy should aim to support all efforts, both large and small.
Resource Assessment
A resource assessment, describing what is currently in stock--and develop a targeted species list for the development of stock seed. It will be necessary to maintain species lists and manage the genetics. Data management will be critical to organize and maintain transparency of this information. Seed ownership comes into play with the establishment of stock seed, and it will be critical to evaluate what models already exist. In addition to schools, local government, and other philanthropic institutions as potential key partners, the group indicated the importance of incorporating indigenous knowledge and forming more partnerships, and integrating organizations.
Seed orchards
Seed orchards were discussed as potential management strategies, such as in the instance of management units in need of revegetation or drastic vegetation changes. Seed orchards can also serve the dual purpose of living collections and field establishment to increase seed supply–not just for common natives but for T&E species as well.
Information and resource needs
Includes developing the capacity for mechanization. Protocol needs should be prioritized, and a centralized knowledge repository and information clearinghouse, especially for seed zones, will be important.
Material Flows
Improving the distribution of native seeds will take collaboration with private nurseries, seed producers, and farmers.
This could be supported by a graduate student position exploring the seed industry market and economics to inform discussions of how to improve the availability of native seed. This will require the organization of meetings among public agency land managers, non-profit partners, and private seed industry leaders to discuss how to increase the availability of native seeds and their distribution. Key partners could include conservation organizations, the private nursery sector, public and private non-profit nurseries, and horticultural staff. In Hawaiʻi, it may also include DLNR/DOFAW, and other federal government agencies such as DOI, USFS, and DOD. This discussion will explore how to expand seed production funding through advance contracting and how to encourage speculative seed production. In addition, this will need to include the effective engagement of the commercial industry.
Role of land use changes
In particular, facilitating fallow lands into productive areas. Non-profits and commercial growers were listed as other key partners with which to engage. Leesees are a stakeholder group needing specific consideration when building a policy infrastructure
Assess current contracting regulations and practices for purchasing native plant materials.
One way to do this is to have a graduate student investigate current procurement policy and engage state and federal procurement specialists and the private sector. Further more, this will entail investigating if federal and state procurement policies can help ensure a stable native plant material market. This action will require meetings with procurement staff, field staff who need to buy seed, and seed industry representatives. Key partners include private industry (nursery, seed, and agriculture) and state and federal procurement specialists. The aim is to ensure that appropriate seed is available when needed, and improve stakeholders ability to purchase said seed.
Including a diversity of systems and community vision
A dependable market that will buy the seed is a critical feature in developing material flows, and the group imagined a market that accounted for diverse systems and community involvement. Central to this would be the articulation of the value of seed--what is it worth? As well as the importance of planning, namely successional planning for restoration goals
Other proposed features
Enabling aggregate resources for smaller growers to pool land and other resources and support their involvement in the flow of native plant materials or community-grown seeds, then bought back by the government as a potential mechanism to facilitate the flow of plant materials in a market setting. incentivization of native plant cultivation and wholesale sellers as a potential mechanism for supporting the development and flow of native plant materials. NRCS has seed distribution programs where grants could be used to incentivize seed production. Another group proposed a plant and seed co-op, similar to the model of the Ulu Coop, where the co-op purchases what you have to contribute.
Panelists
Steve Buckely
Ecologist / Botanist / Liaison, National Park Service
Q: Given your experience working on the continent to develop NPM supply chains to support Department of Interior restoration efforts, can you describe one of your biggest challenges you experience developing increased seed stocks from wild collected seed, and how solutions could possibly be applied in Hawaiʻi?
A: Coming Soon! ...
Makanani Akiona
Propagule Conservation Biologist, Army Natural Resource Program on Oʻahu
Q: As we work to strengthen the NPM supply chain in Hawaiʻi, we will inevitably have to increase our capacity to process and store seeds. Could you share some of the lessons learned at ANRPO, going from hand-processed small seed collections to implementing mechanized processing of larger wild collections? What facilities and equipment were needed?
A: Coming Soon! .....
Pauline Sato
Executive Director, Mālama Learning Center
Q: What is one of the biggest challenges you face in the NPM supply chain when sourcing seeds and plants for community restoration projects? What types of training do you think will be required to further develop the NPM supply chain into the future?
A: Coming Soon! .....
Ethan Romanchak
Owner, Maui Native Nursery
Q: From your perspective as a private sector producer of NPMs, what is one of the largest challenges you face in the NPM supply chain in Hawaiʻi? What are the elements of the NPM supply chain that are better suited to the private sector and what are better suited to the public sector? How do we build a sustainable marketplace for NPMs?
A: Coming Soon! .....
Cheyenne Hiapo Perry
Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance Coordinator
Q: How does cross-boundary management currently support using plants and seeds for restoration (i.e., seeds sourced from one land tenure used on another)? How can seed sharing be developed to effectively support cross-boundary management? In addition to having adequate supplies of quality and ecologically appropriate seeds and plants, what else do we need to conduct and expand restoration in Hawaiʻi?
A: Coming Soon! .....
Rob Hauff
DOFAW Forest Health Coordinator
Q: What is one of the biggest challenges you face in the NPM supply chain when trying to meet the NPM needs for DOFAW? How does DOFAW meet its own needs for NPM? Given existing policy limitations on seed sharing from public lands, what do you see as the role of DOFAW as an important seed source for NPM, given its land base?
A: Coming Soon! .....
J.B. Friday
Extension Forester, UH Mānoa, CTAHR
Q: With a large percentage of the Hawaiʻi landmass in private ownership, what is one of the challenges private landowners face in sourcing NPMs for land management? What tools are needed to educate large private landowners on land management best practices sourcing native plants? How can we strengthen the connections between private producers of NPMs and private landowners to ensure an adequate supply of genetically appropriate NPMs is available for critical land management efforts?
A: Coming Soon! .....
Kim Shay
Network Coordinator, Laukahi (The Hawaiʻi Plant Conservation Network)
Q: How can new research and the communication of existing research strengthen the NPM supply chain in Hawaiʻi? What areas of research and types of communications are necessary across the islands?
A: Coming Soon! .....