Project Highlight: Collaborative Native Seeds and Plants Propagation Program through a National Parks and Protected Areas Cooperative Studies Program

By Kylie Baker

Planting Seeds for Restoration: The East Cascades Native Plant Hub’s Mission to Revitalize Ecosystems Across the Western U.S.

Through the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (PNW CESU), the National Park Service (NPS) and Oregon State University-Cascades (OSU-C) joined forces to establish the East Cascades Native Plant Hub, a pioneering initiative in native plant conservation and restoration. This collaborative effort unites federal agencies, tribal communities, academic institutions, and private landowners, including the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and local conservation organizations. Together, they are addressing critical shortages in native plant materials for restoration, supporting integrated fire and invasive species management, and building resilience in ecosystems across the Western United States.

From Concept to Hub: A Growing Vision

The East Cascades Native Plant Hub originated in 2018 from an earlier project supported through the PNW CESU: the Integrated Fire and Weed Management Planning through a National Parks and Protected Areas Cooperative Studies Program. This foundational project focused on synthesizing research on sagebrush and bunchgrass steppe management to guide adaptive strategies in protected areas like John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

Recognizing the broader need for regionally appropriate plant materials and the urgency of addressing ecosystem threats, the collaboration expanded. In 2022, a more comprehensive initiative was born, evolving into the Native Plant Hub. This shift marked a transition from localized research to a large-scale, multi-agency program dedicated to producing and distributing native seeds and plants for use in fire mitigation, invasive species control, and habitat restoration.

An Integrated Approach to Ecosystem Restoration

At the heart of the East Cascades Native Plant Hub is its commitment to producing and supplying native seeds and plants tailored to the unique ecological needs of the Western United States.¹ The Hub’s operations include seed collection, greenhouse propagation, and field trials, ensuring that plant materials are not only genetically appropriate but also ecologically effective.

For example, locally collected seeds from John Day Fossil Beds National Monument were processed, propagated, and returned to the park for post-fire restoration. Similarly, greenhouse operations at OSU-C have produced thousands of Idaho fescue plugs used for revegetation projects, wildlife crossings, and experimental treatments aimed at restoring understory diversity in degraded landscapes.

By fostering partnerships with local landowners and conservation groups, the Hub has dramatically increased seed production capacity.² Through agreements with these partners, initial yields of species such as bluebunch wheatgrass and Great Basin wildrye have been scaled up, with projections for future harvests reaching thousands of pounds annually by 2025.

Collaboration Across Boundaries

The Hub’s success lies in its ability to unite diverse stakeholders under a shared mission, fostering collaboration among federal agencies, tribal nations, academic institutions, and private landowners. Together, these partners identify restoration priorities, share resources, and align efforts with the National Seed Strategy to ensure a coordinated approach to ecosystem resilience and restoration. This spirit of collaboration extends to workforce development, where the Hub is cultivating the next generation of conservationists.

In the summer of 2024, undergraduate field technicians gained hands-on experience in native seed collection, plant propagation, and restoration techniques, using the Seeds of Success (SOS) protocol to document and collect diverse species. The Hub’s strong culture of cross-training ensures that restoration expertise is passed on, with staff from related projects, such as the Northwest Bat Hub, training new technicians in SOS protocols for seed collection.

Beyond student training, the Hub fosters partnerships with tribal youth corps organizations like the Lomakatsi Restoration Project’s Indian Youth Services Program. Collaborations on seed collection and weed management projects provide tribal participants with comprehensive natural resources career experiences, including pathways to Public Lands Corps hiring authority. Recent agreements with communities like the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes further expand these opportunities, solidifying the Hub’s role as a bridge between ecological restoration and workforce development.

Scaling Impact: From Local Efforts to Regional Solutions

Building on its early successes, the Hub is now poised to expand its reach and influence. Future projects include extensive restoration initiatives at Craters of the Moon National Monument and ongoing efforts to rehabilitate old fields at John Day Fossil Beds. Plans are also underway to enhance the Hub’s infrastructure, including increased seed storage and cleaning capacity, ensuring the long-term sustainability of its operations.

The Hub has also begun exploring opportunities for revenue generation through seed sales to participating agencies and conservation groups, creating a self-sustaining model that supports its mission while reducing reliance on external funding.

A Testament to Collaborative Conservation

The East Cascades Native Plant Hub stands as a model for what can be achieved through collaboration, innovation, and dedication. By addressing urgent ecological challenges with scientifically informed strategies, the Hub not only restores ecosystems but also builds resilient communities and inspires hope for the future of our shared landscapes.

This project, rooted in the collaborative framework of the PNW CESU, illustrates how partnerships across agencies, disciplines, and communities can yield lasting benefits for both people and the environment. As the Hub continues to grow, it will undoubtedly remain a cornerstone of restoration efforts in the Western United States.

A special thank you to Matt Shinderman and Thomas Rodhouse for their critical contributions to this project, as well as Ali Ainsworth for continued support from the CESU; Gordon Dicus (NPS-UCBN) for long-term support of all lab and Plant Hub agreements; Lori Makarick (NPS-BRD) for conceptual and funding support; and Shannon Lipscomb (OSU-C Director of Research) for assistance with agreement processing through the university.

We also extend our gratitude to the Plant Hub staff, including Emily Zamarripa (Hub Project Manager), Hannah Johnson (Greenhouse Coordinator), Sarah Barsch (NPS Botany Field Technician), and Devin Stucki (NPS Vegetation Ecologist), whose expertise and dedication make this work possible.

Seeds Collected by Source¹

Pseudoroegnaria spicata: Lakeview District BLM, John Day Fossil Beds
Leymus cinereus: John Day Fossil Beds
Festuca idahoensis: Prineville District BLM, Lakeview District BLM, Deschutes National Forest
Elymus elymoides: Prineville District BLM, Lakeview District BLM
Achnatherum thurberianum: Prineville District BLM, Lakeview District BLM, John Day Fossil Beds
Poa secunda: Prineville District BLM, Lakeview District BLM
Eriogonum umbellatum: Lakeview District BLM, Deschutes National Forest
Balsamorhiza sagittata: Lakeview District BLM
Achillea millefolium: Lakeview District BLM
Eriophyllum lanatum: Lakeview District BLM
Purshia tridentata: Lakeview District BLM, Deschutes National Forest
Cercocarpus ledifolius: Lakeview District BLM
Cercocarpus betuloides: Lakeview District BLM
Penstemon deustus: Lakeview District BLM
Penstemon laetus: Lakeview District BLM
Penstemon speciosus: Lakeview District BLM

Species in Production (Seed Increase)²

Pseudoroegnaria spicata
Leymus cinereus
Festuca idahoensis
Poa secunda
Achnatherum thurberianum
Penstemon deustus
Penstemon laetus
Eriophyllum lanatum
Eriogonum umbellatum