RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Home → Native Plant Network → Journal → Articles → Native or not: subjective labels and their application in wildland plantings

Native Plants Journal - Article

Native or not: subjective labels and their application in wildland plantings

Abstract:

Biodiversity maintenance and ecosystem stabilization are primary considerations when selecting species for restoration of disturbed wildland communities. Selections based solely on ambiguous labels regarding point of origin (for example, native, introduced) often ignore realities of change caused by migration (both natural and human-facilitated) and long-term climatic shifts. Subsequently, natives are often, but not always, well adapted to the altered environments and uses of today's wildland communities. The utilization
of broad-based releases and multi-germplasm blends increase genetic diversity and offer improved opportunity for success on variable environments. Evaluations of past plantings can provide valuable insight on the suitability of various species, both introduced and native, for wildland stabilization. An adaptive strategy enlightened by unbiased hindsight, while at the same time possessing a clear forward vision, will be increasingly important for managing wildlands in a changing world.

Issue & Pages:

Spring 2001 Pages: 21-24

Article Download:

2-1NPJ21-24.pdf (PDF document)

Authors:

  • Stanley G Kitchen
  • E Durant McArthur

Keywords:

biodiversity, community stability, migration, plant material development