The BLM Plant Conservation program, formerly known as Botany, emphasizes the Bureau’s recognition of the importance of managing healthy native plant communities. Native plants are essential to the diversity of ecosystems and the health of the lands we manage. Official names and codes for plants are stored in the NRCS Plant Database .

The Plant Conservation Program focuses on three areas: rare and endangered plants, restoration of native plant communities and improving our knowledge of plants and the information they provide about the land health and changing climate.

Rare and Endangered Plants
Plants must be both rare and at risk before they are listed. The Threatened and Endangered Species list is based on the Endangered Species Act. The Bureau’s Special Status Species list is created from the state vascular plant tracking list maintained by the Alaska Natural Heritage Program. See BLM Manual 6840.

Native Plant Restoration
BLM must use native species when seeding or planting. See BLM Manual 1745.

Native Plant Material Development: The FY 2002 Interior Appropriations Act directed DOI and USDA agencies to develop a program to supply and manage native plant materials for restoration and rehabilitation projects on federal lands. The goal is to promote cooperation among agencies to develop a self-sustaining program to supply and manage native plant materials. BLM is partnering with the Alaska Plant Material Center (PMC) to increase the availability of native plants for restoration. See the PMC website for native plant materials currently available in Alaska and guidelines for using them.

Seeds of Success: Increases the number of species and the amount of native seed that is available for use in stabilizing, rehabilitating and restoring lands in the United States.

Programs to Collect and Share Information about Native Plants
Celebrating Wildflowers, increases the awareness of the beauty, diversity and recreational opportunities provided by wildflowers.

Chicago Botanic Garden Internship Program assists BLM in finding qualified candidates to do botanical work.

USA National Phenology Network is our climate change connection.

Other Plant Conservation Resource Links:
BLM’s National Weed Program