The USDA Forest Service National Seed Laboratory: Supporting reforestation and restoration efforts on national forests

Abstract

On the USDA Forest Service National Forest System, reforestation and restoration plans often require tree seedlings and native plant seed to expedite achieving a desired future condition following timber harvests, wildfires, and outbreaks of disease and insect pests. The seed and seedlings used by the agency for these purposes are produced by its Genetic Resource Program and its Nursery System, State forestry offices and other public agencies, and the commercial forest nursery and native seed industries. The Forest Service National Seed Laboratory (NSL) was established in 1954 to support these producers by providing seed testing services and technical assistance to ensure the production of high-quality seed and seedlings. Seed tests determine seed quality and the results are used by forest nurseries to efficiently manage the annual production of more than one billion seedlings, by seed processing plants to evaluate the quality of seed produced, and by seed companies and agencies as the basis for seed price determination. From 2012 to 2019 the NSL conducted more than 45,000 seed tests for more than 200 clients and provided technical assistance to partners by providing expertise and information on seed collection, processing, storage, germination, and production in support of a wide range of research and management objectives. The NSL is a national program funded cooperatively by State and Private Forestry, the National Forest System, and Research and Development. It is also a part of the National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) program. This presentation will review the NSL program with an emphasis on service delivery.

Parent Publication

• Foundational concepts in silviculture with emphasis on reforestation and early stand improvement - 2022 National Silviculture Workshop

Citation

Vankus, Victor. 2022. The USDA Forest Service National Seed Laboratory: Supporting reforestation and restoration efforts on national forests. In: Jain, Theresa B.; Schuler, Thomas M. [comp.]. Foundational concepts in silviculture with emphasis on reforestation and early stand improvement - 2022 National Silviculture Workshop. Proc. RMRS-P-80. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 1 p.