[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Interior Department releases a National Seed Strategy[/title][fusion_text]Monday, August 17th 2015
The Interior Department released a National Seed Strategy to restore wildlife landscapes, especially for land damaged by rangeland fires, as well as invasive species, severe storms and drought. The strategy, developed in partnership with the Plant Conservation Alliance and USDA, emphasizes the importance of planting appropriate seeds to help grow plant life and pollinator habitat. The Interior Department noted that in 2012, more than two million acres of sagebrush habitat burned in four western states; and in the eastern U.S., Hurricane Sandy caused widespread damage to native plant habitats. The National Seed Strategy outlines coordinated research, as well as improvements in seed production and restoration technology to increase the availability of genetically appropriate seed. The 12 federal agencies engaged in the development of the strategy include the Department of the Interior (BLM, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service); Department of Agriculture (Agricultural Research Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and U.S. Forest Service); Department of Transportation (Federal Highway Administration); the Smithsonian Institution; and the U.S. Botanic Garden.
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