Collecting Native Plant Seeds

This presentation will outline best practices for native-seed collection to support ecological restoration. It will explain why wild-collected seeds are valuable, emphasizing genetic diversity, adaptive traits, and long-term conservation benefits. The process will be framed as adaptive management, moving through planning, implementation, and evaluation. A detailed, multi-step workflow will cover site assessment, species selection, wild-seed collection, seed-increase farming, cleaning, storage, and application. The presentation will highlight the importance of phenology monitoring, careful data collection, and collaboration with land managers and communities. A multi-year case study will be provided to illustrate timelines, challenges, and learning outcomes, reinforcing that successful restoration requires patience, planning, and ongoing collaboration.

Vanessa Robertson-Rojas holds a master’s degree in environmental science and has 15 years of experience in ecological restoration in the Pacific Northwest, with a focus on plant-community dynamics. She leads The Understory Initiative’s Rogue Basin plant-material development and oversees restoration and monitoring across diverse habitats.…