The program will materially assist in building a supply of ethically and properly collected and banked native seed for USFWS use across the mid-atlantic states (NY, PA, NJ, DE, WV, VA, and eastern…

The program will materially assist in building a supply of ethically and properly collected and banked native seed for USFWS use across the mid-atlantic states (NY, PA, NJ, DE, WV, VA, and eastern glaciated OH). Working with and guided by the USFWS, the program will identify USFWS current and future native plant material (NPM) needs in the mid-atlantic will develop species lists tailored to meet those needs and will identify source populations, both on and off of USFWS lands for collection. The program will deploy a seeds of success (SOS) collection team to scout and collect native seed according to SOS protocols. The USFWS native seed coordinator will coordinate with and support the program on all aspects related to the SOS protocol. Seed will be cleaned by and banked with the national SOS program, which will make the seed available to USFWS for native plant material development (npmd) as requested by them. The program will identify available existing collections within its and partner s seed banks suitable for USFWS use for npmd as its needs arise. In addition, the program will advise on strategies to best ensure successful establishment of future planting or seeding projects and develop lists of workhorse species suitable for early successional plantings and designed to combat invasives and stabilize disturbed sites. The program will submit annual reports in january to USFWS and include summarized information for the preceding calendar year.