Project Profile: Produce Seed for Central Grassland Ecosystems

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
National Seed Strategy | FY24 - $500,000

Virginia Wild Rye growing in a grassland in Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Mike Haddock

The National Park Service (NPS) will increase native seed availability for plants in the mixed grass and tallgrass prairie of the Central U.S., advancing the National Seed Strategy priorities. The project will support established relationships with academic, interagency, and Tribal partners, as well as other stakeholders for seed production. With their help, the NPS will plant seeds in these prairies to restore the ecosystems in the Northern Great Plains grasslands including national parks and Tribal lands.

Why? These prairies support regionally unique communities of grassland birds and pollinators. The prairie ecosystems, unfortunately, have experienced significant decline and much of the prairies in Midwest parks are gone. To help bring back these prairies and allow for them to be home to the plants and animals that inhabit them, planting native seeds of grass is the best solution to help for a large-scale project. What’s more, species in the seed mixes will include those adapted for resilience to climate change.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes critical investments in the resilience and restoration of America’s lands, skies, and waters, and enhances conservation and recreation opportunities. Visitors will see tangible results such as repaired and upgraded trails and campgrounds, removal of invasive species, as well as healthy wetlands, grasslands, and forests.