Conservation biology and plant breeding: Special considerations for the development of native plant materials for use in restoration

The development of native plant materials for restoration demands that close attention be paid to the expectations of the specialized customer base of ecological restorationists. Restoration practitioners' expectations are often built on assumptions and values reflective of the relatively new discipline of conservation biology. Unlike most scientific disciplines, conservation biology is unashamedly value driven. Its basic thrust is that we must maintain natural patterns of genetic diversity at many levels and thus perserve options for future evolution.