The negaunee institute for plant conservation science and action at the chicago botanic garden (CBG) has been an engaged partner with the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (FWS), supporting plant…

This Cooperative Agreement, awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program (CFDA 15.631), provides $873,041 to the Chicago Botanic Garden to support two key efforts:

1. Continued coordination of the USFWS Seeds of Success (SOS) national program, including managing data, providing technical training, and supporting SOS collections for mine land revegetation.

2. Enhancing USFWS input into the development of the National Interagency Seed and Restoration Center (NISRC), ensuring USFWS needs and priorities are incorporated. This includes facilitating planning meetings and developing informational products to expand the native seed supply chain.

The award period runs from December 20, 2024 to December 31, 2028, and builds on the Chicago Botanic Garden's longstanding partnership with USFWS in supporting plant conservation and restoration efforts.

The negaunee institute for plant conservation science and action at the chicago botanic garden (CBG) has been an engaged partner with the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (FWS), supporting plant conservation and restoration efforts at the agency, helping FWS meet objectives of the national seed strategy for rehabilitation and restoration. This agreement seeks to continue and expand on that work by supporting two efforts critical to meeting national FWS native seed and restoration goals: 1. Continued support of a FWS seeds of success (SOS) program national coordinator, who will work nationally with FWS, DOI, SOS headquarters, and partners to plan collection efforts, coordinate and manage data, develop reports, provide technical training, foster SOS partnerships with FWS and partners, and support SOS collections for mineland revegetation efforts. 2. Support and enhance FWS input in the development of the national interagency seed and restoration center (nisrc), ensuring FWS needs and priorities are effectively addressed in the planning and early development stages. This includes two facilitated planning meetings focused on incorporating unique aspects of FWS into the formation of nisrc. The development of user-friendly informational products in aid of expanding the native seed supply chain is also included. FWS will benefit from this cooperative agreement through continued support and coordination of SOS collection efforts, as well as support for the development of nisrc, meeting FWS national seed strategy goals. CBG will benefit from this cooperative agreement by expanding and deepening its national impact and leadership in plant conservation and restoration, building on a primary strategic goal.