Native seeds and plants are the currency of ecological restoration. Without access to diverse and appropriate native plant materials, many planned restoration projects would not happen. These materials facilitate diverse and resilient ecosystems by creating a local robust native plant materials economy.
Since its genesis in 2016, the Rogue Native Plant Partnership has developed into a collaboration of over 40 organizations. These include federal, state and local agencies, non-profits, commercial growers, indigenous tribes, land trusts, and other private landowners.
Through regular stakeholder meetings and the work of a part-time coordinator, RNPP is busy implementing its strategic plan for addressing the challenges of producing native seeds and plants. The RNPP website provides partners and the interested public with an events calendar, a resources library, and an online marketplace for native plants and seeds. They also coordinate regular volunteer-powered seed collection events aimed at educating the public about native plants while providing wild-collected seed for local restoration projects. Twice yearly, it holds an increasingly popular sale of native plants.
Progress towards fulfilling RNPP’s mission would not be possible without the support of numerous funders. These include the Bureau of Land Management, Klamath Siskiyou National Forest, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Transportation, The Nature Conservancy, Oregon State Parks and through RBP’s role as fiscal sponsor for the federal funding opportunities.
