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Overview
As a pilot project in 2018 and 2019, we are testing the feasibility of using biological (planting, seeding) treatments to manage ROWs in central/northern Saskatchewan. The Native Seed Collection project is a collaboration between our group at the University of Saskatchewan and Randy Johns with Keewatin Community Development Association (KCDA) and Bruce Hesselink, Environment Manager of the SaskPower Shand Greenhouse. The pilot project consists of three phases: Seed collection (July-September 2018), growing plant plugs (October-May 2018/2019), and planting and monitoring plugs (June-September 2019).
Benefits
Our project goals are to bring short-term employment to the communities of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band as well as engage with the community to promote learning of traditional and scientific knowledge. Exploring multiple land uses for power line ROWs in a manner that supports sharing local knowledge and local economy can promote effective co-management strategies. The native plants we selected provide benefits for local communities, as they are harvestable forest products of traditional, medicinal, and commercial value.
The long-term benefit is a better understanding of potential native plant communities that can be used in ROWs vegetation management and the feasibility of growing and creating native plant assemblies.
Project Phases
Seed collection (July-September 2018)
Through the delivery of two educational/activity short courses, we will recruit and train local residents of Grandmother’s Bay in plant identification and seed collection of native shrubs, forbs and grasses. The first short course focuses on the need for and challenges of managing vegetation on power line ROWs, identification of common plant species on ROWs and plant species of traditional and/or commercial value that can be grown on ROWs. The second short course is a more hands-on workshop involving seed collection from multiple candidate species and an overview on proper seed cleaning, processing and storing. Through a small grant awarded to Dr. Stewart for this pilot project, we have funding for ~230 man hours. Currently we have four residents of Grandmother’s Bay working as seed collectors. Seed collectors will collect, clean, and process seed from 17 different native boreal species.
Growing seed (October-May 2018/2019)
Bruce Hesselink, Manager of Shand SaskPower greenhouse, will grow all native seed in the fall and winter after collection. With support from SaskPower, we will have ~1600 plugs (i.e., seedlings that have germinated and grown in small trays) grown. The large number of plugs allows us to create a variety of plant communities to determine which groups grow best together.
Planting and monitoring plugs (Summer 2019)
In the summer of 2019, another short course will be delivered to the community focused on creating plant communities on ROWs, planting techniques and monitoring of planted vegetation. Plugs will be planted on a demonstration area that is representative of a ROW. Local community members will continue to monitor the plant communities and following establishment and completion of the project can harvest any plants for personal use.
Resources for Seed Collectors