BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Federal authorities announced a plan Monday to produce massive quantities of seeds from native plants so they can be quickly planted to help the land recover from natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes. ADVERTISING BOISE,
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Federal authorities announced a plan Monday to produce massive quantities of seeds from native plants so they can be quickly planted to help the land recover from natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes.
The program will make landscapes more resilient and healthier, especially Western rangelands where massive wildfires have been an increasing problem, the U.S. Department of the Interior said.
Officials hope to create a national network of seed collectors, growers and storage facilities so that enough native seeds will be available immediately after disasters to avoid erosion and prevent invasive species from moving in.
“Having the right seed in the right place at the right time makes a major difference in the health of our landscapes,” Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in a statement.
The strategy targets Western rangelands, where drought-stricken terrain fuels huge wildfires that have destroyed homes and key animal habitat. For example, a wildfire on the Idaho-Oregon border by Monday had consumed nearly 450 square miles of rangeland needed to feed cattle and habitat for sage grouse, a bird being considered for federal protection.
The Interior Department said that such destruction requires a national seed strategy to give land managers a way to bolster natural defenses.
The agency also noted the widespread damage that Hurricane Sandy caused in 2012 to native plant habitats that stabilize soil and absorb storm surges. But a shortage of native seeds left the area vulnerable to erosion and invasive plants, the agency said.
“In many cases, it has been difficult to obtain and deliver adequate quantities of the appropriate seed to meet a region’s particular need,” Steve Ellis, deputy director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, said in a statement.
Officials said federal, tribal, state, local and private entities will take part in the plan.
