The Department of the Interior released a National Seed Strategy on August 17 that outlines a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate and restore resilient landscapes. The strategy was developed collaboratively with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Plant Conservation Alliance to guide restoration of landscapes after natural disasters such as wildfire, severe storms, drought and invasive species. The strategy will create a national network of facilities to provide native seed storage and ensure that native seeds are available broadly. In addition, there will be coordination of native seed collectors, growers and nurseries to ensure that adequate quantities of the appropriate seed are available when needed for restoration ecologists to utilize on the ground after a disaster.

"Large, disturbed areas must be replanted quickly to avoid severe erosion or colonization by non-native invasive plants," Bureau of Land Management Deputy Director Steve Ellis 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. This strategy builds on the significant achievements we are making in landscape restoration, and calls for an unprecedented level of collaboration and commitment to further enhance the nation's supply and distribution of the right seeds."