The Understory Initiative

This Project Addresses Two Key Needs for Pollinator Habitat Restoration in Southwest Oregon: Increasing Access to Regionally Adapted Native Plant Materials for U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Partners Program Projects, and Finalizing Production and Field Testing of the Umpqua Oak-associated Grassland (OAG) Pollinator Mix for Private Landowner Restoration.the Rogue Native Plant Partnership (RNPP), the Project Will Establish Two Seed Beds, Harvest Seed Over Two Years, and Produce Plugs of Priority Pollinator Species Identified With Usfws. Regional Growers Will Propagate Target Species, With the Understory Initiative (TUI) Providing Coordination, Quality Control, and Delivery Oversight. the Umpqua Native Plant Partnership (unpp), the Project Will Complete Seed Bed Establishment for the Remaining Species in the Oag Pollinator Mix, an Ecologically Appropriate Mix Designed for Oak Grasslands in the Umpqua Basin. the Mix Will Be Field-tested on Up to One Acre Across 24 Private Landowner Sites in Douglas County. Tui Will Coordinate With Landowners, Conduct Site Assessments, and Support Light Soil Preparation and Manual Seeding.coordinated by the Understory Initiative, the Project Strengthens Regional Native Plant Supply Chains While Directly Supporting Usfws Restoration Priorities and Private Land Conservation. Deliverables Include Two Seed Beds and Two Years of Seed Harvest Through RNPP Plug Production of Priority Pollinator Species Establishment of 35 Seed Beds for Remaining Oag Mix Species Through Unpp and Field Testing of the Oag Mix on Up to One Acre. Unpp Will Also Provide 810 Landowner Site Visits for Coordination, Soil Preparation, and Seeding. Outcomes Include Improved Pollinator Habitat, Increased Access to Locally Appropriate Seed and Plugs, and Expanded Capacity for Native Plant Material Production in SW Oregon.