The availability of genetically appropriate native plant materials for restoration purposes in the Colorado Plateau of the American Southwest is limited at best. While materials of some species that occur within the Colorado Plateau are commercially available, their source is often unknown, or they are derived from areas that are geographically far and/or ecologically distinct from habitats in the Colorado Plateau. With ever-increasing human pressures on public lands, and with changing climates, many federal and state agencies, as well as nongovernmental organizations, are looking toward research for the development of native plant materials that are best suited for, and most likely to successfully re-establish on, the harsh environments characteristic of the Colorado Plateau.
Results/Conclusions
The Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program (CPNPP) was established as a part of the Bureau of Land Management's national Native Plant Materials Development Program. CPNPP is focused on the collection, evaluation, and development of genetically appropriate native plant materials for restoring native ecosystems in the Colorado Plateau. CPNPP has established a partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey's Colorado Plateau Research Station (CPRS) in Flagstaff, Arizona, to develop a native plant research program. CPRS has begun research on: 1) characterizing ecologically relevant genetic variation within Colorado Plateau restoration plant species; 2) understanding potential impacts of climate change on restoration efforts; 3) evaluating the suitability of plant materials for commercial development; and 4) developing best practices for successful re-establishment of native plant materials. While in its infancy, the goal of this program is to build knowledge and partnerships that will allow land managers to achieve the broad goal of ecosystem restoration on the Colorado Plateau.