Four paths toward realizing the full potential of using native plants during ecosystem restoration in the Intermountain West

Abstract

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  Using native species in seed-based restoration efforts is critical for recreating or maintaining healthy, resistant, and resilient ecosystems and communities in the Intermountain Western United States.

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  The use of seed from native species has increased dramatically in the last few decades, and so have research and the development of new guidance for best practices.

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  Despite all the valuable effort to date, we have yet to see the full potential of native plant species restoration in this region.

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  Several important paths to improved success of native plant restoration are clear: recognize and leverage intraspecific variation and local adaptation in plants, increase the development and use of seed transfer guidance, build seed production partnerships to benefit restoration and local communities, and be ready and willing to adopt changes to the way things are done when the evidence is clear that change will help.

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  The challenge of returning native plants to degraded dryland ecosystems will always be prone to failures, but improved success is possible if researchers, policy makers, restorationists, seed growers, and others work to bring new science, guidance, and recommendations to scale.