Forest service nurseries: 100 years of ecosystem restoration

Abstract

The USDA Forest Service broke ground on its first nursery in 1902 and since then its nurseries have adopted to many changes in scope and direction: from fire restoration to conservation, to reforestation, old back to restoration. In addition to providing a reliable source of native plant material, they have also been a source of research and technology transfer in seedling production and quality. Today, Forest Service nurseries face difficult times due to sharp declines in reforestation seedling orders, but strive to respond to increased demand for a Wide variety of native plants for ecosystem restoration.