Northern Ontario seed producers are among 13 recipients to receive funding to help improve and increase the country's native seed production.
Northern Wildflowers in Sudbury and Matawa First Nations Management have received grants from WWF – Canada through its Seed Orchard Program to “support the establishment and expansion of seed orchards — native plant growing operations that produce the locally sourced seed needed for habitat restoration projects.”
In a news release, WWF – Canada said restoring healthy ecosystems in Canada is needed to protect wildlife and fight climate change, but there aren't enough native plants available to do that on the scale that's needed.
With seed orchards, seeds are harvested from plants that are produced specifically for that purpose.
At Northern Wildflowers, the funding will help increase on-farm seed production, introduce new native species into cultivation, and train seed collection technicians.
The company noted that increased seed production will help Canada fulfill its “30 by 30” pledge — protecting 30 per cent of lands and waters by 2030.
“There is no large-scale restoration without seed,” Jenny Fortier, CEO and founder of Northern Wildflowers, said in a news release.
“Canada’s 30 by 30 targets are ambitious — but without investment in local seed production, they risk remaining just words. This partnership with WWF – Canada helps us take real, tangible action in accelerating our production.”
WWF – Canada said through its Seed Orchard Program, grant recipients have planted 35,500 native plants in 20 seed orchards and harvested 72 kilograms of seed from 142 different native plant species.
