Native plant development and restoration program for the Great Basin, USA

Abstract

The Great Basin Native Plant Selection and Increase Project, organized by the USDA Bureau of Land Management, Great Basin Restoration Initiative and the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station in 2000 as a multi-agency collaborative program (https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/boise/research/shrub/greatbasin.shtml), has the objective of improving the availability of native plant materials and providing the knowledge and technology required for their use in restoring diverse native plant communities in the Great Basin of the western United States. Lands within the 55 million ha region have been heavily impacted over the last 150 years by harmful grazing practices, invasion of exotic annual grasses, primarily Bromus tectorum, and changing fire regimes. Guidance for this project is provided by Executive Orders, Congressional direction, and the National Fire Plan, including Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Program, to increase, where feasible and practical, the use of native plant materials, particularly native forbs. More than 20 federal, state and private cooperators in 10 states are involved in this project.

Citation

Shaw, N. L.; Pellant, M.; Olweli, P.; Jensen, S. L.; McArthur, E. D. 2008. Native plant development and restoration program for the Great Basin, USA. In: Multifunctional grasslands in a changing world, Volume II; XXI International Grassland Congress; VIII International Rangeland Congress. Beijing, China: Guangdong People''s Publishing House: 454