Native Plant Materials Development:
Ten Years and Growing
Peggy Olwell
Bureau of Land Management
Plant Conservation Program Lead
Science Editorial
November 19, 2010
• Plants are essential to the survival of our planet – to its
ecology, biodiversity, and climate.
• Vigorous high-quality scientific research in the plant sciences
will be crucial for the world’s future.
• Yet basic plant science research has struggled to take root in
the U.S. … Federal support for fundamental plant science
research has been less than 2%.
• The amount awarded on a competitive basis to academic
and research institutions constitutes only about 2% of
extramural spending for life sciences research ($382 million
out of $17 billion in 2005).
Federal T&E Recovery Expenditures
Reported to FWS
(not including land acquisitions)
Expenditures in Millions of Dollars
1,400
1,200
Total
Plants
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
OVERVIEW
• Ten Years of Native Plant Materials
Development Program
• Plant Conservation Program Budget 2012
• National Seed Coordinator Position
• Ely Seed Warehouse
• Internal BLM Seed Use Survey
• BLM Overview
• Priorities for FY 2012
• What that means for GBNPSIP
Native Plant Materials Development
Process
National Native Plant Materials
Development Program
Annual Funding
FY2001 - $5.3 m
FY2007 - $4.6 m
FY2002 - $4.7 m
FY2008 - $4.6 m
FY2003 - $2.3 m
FY2009 - $5.8 m
FY2004 - $4.6 m
FY2010 - $8.1 m
FY2005 - $4.6 m
FY2011 - $7.6 m
FY2006 - $4.4 m
FY2012 - $7.85 m
2001-2012 Total: $64.45 million
Annual Seed Collection Totals
3,322
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,235
1,500
1,000
500
447
1,474 1,504
1,012
1,208
685
0
 Seed Collections: nearly 13,000
 Taxa Represented: 4,200
1,044 1,058
~1,650
Map of SOS Collections
Budget 2012
• BLM Plant Conservation Program
I.
Native Plant Materials Development
$4.6 m
Wildlife Subactivity
$3.0 m
Climate Change Sub-activity *
$250 k
Benefitting Sub-activities
II. Sensitive & Rare Plants
$5.5 m
T&E Sub-activity
$200 k for CLM Interns
$8.05 million annually
*OIG Audit
National Seed Coordinator
• Paul Krabacher selected & started 11-14-12
• Supervise Management and Operations of
BLM Seed Warehouses (Boise and Ely)
• Coordinate the 3-4 Consolidated Seed
Buys/Year
• Coordinate work with national BLM Plant
Conservation Program Lead and ES& R
Program Lead
• Work with Seed Industry
Ely, NV Seed Warehouse
Design Phase:
Completed 9-30-11
Construction Phase:
Nov – Jan 2012 Procure contract
Feb - Mar 2012 Award contract
Apr- May 2012 Construction start
Dec-Apr 2013 Construction end
Apr-May 2013 Occupancy
BLM Seed Use Survey
• Internal Survey developed
Survey going online
3- 1-12
• Instructional Memorandum (IM) drafted
IM - surname process:
2-22-12
IM to Field Offices:
3- 1-12
IM due date:
3-31-12
• Analysis and Report
3-31-12
BLM Overview
• What is driving BLM’s conservation
program:
– Sage-Grouse
– Climate Change
– Rapid Ecoregional Assessments
– Healthy Landscapes
– Assessments, Inventory and Monitoring
Rapid Ecoregional Assessments:
Underway and Proposed
• Underway
– 7 in FY 2010
– 3 in FY 2011
• Proposed
– 2 in FY 2012
– 1 in FY 2013
Rapid Ecoregional Assessments
What do REAs do?
•
–
–
–
–
–
–

Assess status of key ecological values
Forecast trends
Identify management opportunities
Identify data gaps and science needs
Provide information and tools
Do not make decisions or allocations
REA key points:





Begin with management questions
Science based
Conceptual model
Provide geospatial information
Rapid

Identify, map, and spatially
model:

Conservation elements (CEs)




Native fish and wildlife species CEs
Native, intact vegetation communities
CEs
Aquatic and riparian/wetland CEs
Change agents (CAs)




Wildland fire
Development
Invasive species
Climate change
EcoregionallyBased Native
Plant Curriculum
for Oregon
Funded thru Plant
Conservation Alliance Grant
Program with National Fish &
Wildlife Foundation in 2010.
PDF copy and workshop info
available online at
http://appliedeco.org/
In 2012, we will work with BLM Environmental Education &
Partnerships Division to develop a generic curriculum with BLM
State Supplements.
NPMDP Program 2012 Priorities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Work with OIG on Climate Change Funding Audit
Conduct BLM Seed Use Survey
Establish Interagency NPMDP Board
Update the NPMDP Progress Report (2001-2007)
Plan the 2nd National Native Seed Conference
Work with National Seed Coordinator to strengthen BLM
relationship with Seed Industry
Increase partnerships in Desert Southwest & Establish Eco-regional
Native Plant Materials Program for Mojave Desert
Support & Strengthen Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, Pacific
Northwest & California Eco-regional Native Plant Materials
Programs
Plan & Hold Seeds of Success Partners Meeting (Fall 2012)
Update Plant Conservation Alliance Strategy and move PCA
website (including SOS website) to BLM server
What does this means for GBNPSIP?
QUESTIONS?
For more information:
Peggy Olwell
polwell@blm.gov
202-912-7273