In 2005, the Bureau of Land Management in Idaho formed a multiyear partnership with two tribes to develop native-plant materials for fire-restoration and fire-rehabilitation projects. BLM secured funding for its agreement with the Shoshone-Bannock and the Shoshone-Paiute tribes through the Native Plants Material Program, an interagency program that is part of the National Fire Plan. In place within BLM since 2000, NPMP meets Congress’ direction to “supply native plant material for emergency stabilization and longer term rehabilitation and restoration efforts.” 

Idaho is part of BLM’s Great Basin Restoration Initiative, research efforts to reverse ecological damages in the the arid region.  Like others in the region, BLM managers in Idaho are faced with increased wildfires due to invasive weeds, as well as the resultant rehabilitation work. In support of the initiative, they have strived to integrate native-plant materials into all projects involving restoration, fuels management, emergency stabilization and rehabilitation of burned areas. Through its partnerships with area tribes, Idaho BLM has developed a ready source of native-plant materials.

Using NPMP funds, Idaho BLM and the tribes have cooperatively built a greenhouse on each reservation so tribes can grow and supply it with native seedlings. The greenhouses, which are located near schools, also give students from the tribes the opportunity to manage them and to produce plant material. With subsequent funding, technical assistance and their partnership with BLM, the tribes’ hard work has met with success: The Shoshone-Bannock tribe has planted and grown 40,000 sagebrush seedlings, and the Shoshone-Paiute tribe is growing 60,000 bitterbrush and sagebrush seedlings. In turn, BLM’s Idaho Falls and Twin Falls Districts purchased all of the seedlings for use in fire rehabilitation during March 2008.

“It’s all moving along well with help from employees of the BLM,” said Hunter Osborne, the greenhouse manager for the Shoshone Bannock tribe. “They have been instrumental in the success of the program. We are busy getting the nurseries ready for the next season and recently received funding to build another nursery.”  

The Shoshone-Bannock tribe also provided resources to build a refrigeration unit to store the seedlings once they are ready. Refrigeration will allow the tribe to replant and conduct “grow” operations year round.  If the tribe is able to produce more seedlings, Idaho BLM will purchase the additional plant material. Alternatively, it may refer its federal and state partners to the tribes so they may purchase the seedlings.

The partnership has also allowed Idaho BLM to reach out to several federal partners to assist the tribes in expanding opportunities for native-plant production by getting into native-seed collection. USDA Forest Service offices (Lucky Peak Nursery and its Research Lab in Boise, Idaho, and Provo, Utah) have been training the tribes on production-and-collection aspects of native plants/seeds. Lucky Peak committed to assist the tribes in cleaning seed and germination testing.  The Research Lab provided training on the reservations about identification, collection and federal requirements for purchase and use. The Natural Resource Conservation Service provides technical expertise, as needed, on the Shoshone-Bannock tribe’s Fort Hall Reservation.

In the future, the tribes are interested in expanding their partnership with BLM to provide greater quantity and variety of native-plant material (seeds and seedlings).  They are also interested in employment and educational opportunities this could generate. These could include training and employment through the Youth Conservation Corps and training in business, botany, natural resources, and fire management. It could also involve employing adult crews for seed gathering, planting, grow operations, as well as expanding the greenhouse and/or moving into outdoor-nursery operations.  

Idaho BLM hopes to continue to work cooperatively with both tribes to enhance the availability of native-plant material for use on public lands throughout future years.