Native seed viability and germination potential for restoration of BC interior grasslands

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As natural areas are disturbed through increasing resource extraction, there is an urgent and constant need for land reclamation. Grasslands are difficult to restore because of their low productivity and slow soil-building processes, but also due to the fact that there are limited native seed sources and little research on seed handling and germination potential of native grassland seed. The proposed project fulfills a timely need in research on best germination techniques of native grassland plants, with a special interest in those plants of cultural significance to First Nations. At least 20 native grasses, forbs and shrubs growing in British Columbia interior grasslands will be collected from multiple populations in order to increase genetic diversity of the seed stock. Laboratory trials of viability and germination of seeds will be run. By gaining an understanding of the best germination techniques, this will help increase success when native seed is used in restoration projects.