Plants, people and progress for native prairie seeds
Across much of the central United States, there are ongoing efforts to restore native prairie. Returning native plants to the landscape can improve soil health and water quality and provide habitat for important wildlife and pollinators.
The ongoing restoration of native prairie across much of the central United States involves efforts to improve soil health, water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators. Native seeds play a crucial role in these restoration projects, but their collection, growth, and distribution rely on a network of people who work together.
To better understand this native seed system and identify ways to support it, researchers from the Native Plant Initiative at South Dakota State University conducted a deep dive into the social aspects of native seed systems in the Northern Great Plains region. The researchers found that the native seed system is more complex than initially thought, with distinct commercial and tribal networks operating in the same region.
The commercial network focuses on collecting, producing, selling, and using seeds for restoration, while the tribal network takes a more community-based approach, often using seeds for food, medicine, and considering their significance for reciprocity and sovereignty. The researchers noted that previous research may have underestimated the importance of these cultural, values, and knowledge aspects in understanding native seed systems.
To strengthen collaboration, restoration efforts, and long-term resilience, the researchers emphasized the need to consider the relationships, knowledge, values, institutions, and economics that shape the resilience of the system. The next phase of the research will continue to explore the relationship between people, native plants, and resilient landscapes, with a focus on wild foods and their role in shaping resilient food systems.
The researchers also hope to work with specialty crop farmers to increase native seed production capacity and supply for restoration projects. Ultimately, the researchers hope their findings will be shared widely, emphasizing that plants and landscapes are cultural and that understanding cultural values can influence conservation and restoration efforts for future generations.
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