Native Plant Production and Planting
Melanie Platt
WFCA 2026 Native Plant Knowledge Sharing
In the wake of climate‑driven disturbance and the growing need for whole‑ecosystem restoration, the Ministry of Forests has begun building a provincial strategy for native plants — one rooted in place, culture, and collaboration. Led by Leith McKenzie and Melanie Plett, this work is reshaping how British Columbia understands, grows, and deploys native species in restoration projects.A Shared Vision, Two Complementary Roles
Together, they are building a system that moves beyond timber‑centric reforestation toward whole‑ecosystem recovery.
Gathering Native Plant Knowledge
To build a strategy grounded in real landscapes and cultural priorities, McKenzie and Plett led a series of regional workshops across the province. The process began in Merritt, moved north to Moberly Lake, continued east to Nupqu Nursery in Cranbrook, and concluded on the coast at Nats Nursery and the Provincial Tree Seed Center in Surrey and Langley.
Each stop brought together First Nations knowledge holders, government restoration teams, and native plant experts to synthesize the full spectrum of native plant knowledge — cultural, ecological, and operational. These workshops introduced native plant expertise in person across regions that had never hosted such conversations before, creating the conditions where information sharing could finally begin.
Knowledge Sharing Emerged as a Core Principle
At the outset, many participants arrived with understandable hesitation about sharing proprietary knowledge — seed sources, propagation techniques, cultural plant lists, and region‑specific expertise built over decades.
But as the workshops unfolded, something powerful happened: people came together and started sharing what they knew.
The presence of First Nations knowledge holders, the shared purpose of restoring ecosystems, and the practical need for collaboration dissolved old barriers. What began as guarded expertise evolved into a collective knowledge network, where participants exchanged:
- propagation methods
- culturally significant species lists
- seed collection protocols
- regional ecological insights
- storage and handling practices
Building Local Native Plant Seed Banks
A major outcome of the workshops was the recognition that BC needs local native plant seed banks, developed in cooperation with First Nations, nurseries, and regional practitioners. Native species are deeply tied to place — genetically, culturally, and ecologically — which means seed must be collected, stored, and managed within the regions they come from.
Local seed banks strengthen regional resilience by giving communities the ability to respond quickly after wildfire or disturbance, with seed that reflects the biodiversity and cultural values of the land itself.
More Workshops Anticipated — But Policy Must Lead
The momentum created through the first round of workshops has generated strong demand for more sessions. Practitioners, First Nations, nurseries, and plant specialists all want to continue the knowledge‑sharing and expand regional networks.
But McKenzie and Plett were clear: future workshops and organizational initiatives will depend on policy direction and support.
The expertise is there.
The willingness is there.
The networks are forming.
What’s needed now is the policy architecture that will allow this emerging system to scale across British Columbia.
A major outcome of the workshops was the recognition that BC needs local native plant seed banks, developed in cooperation with First Nations, nurseries, and regional practitioners. Native species are deeply tied to place — genetically, culturally, and ecologically — which means seed must be collected, stored, and managed within the regions they come from.
Local seed banks strengthen regional resilience by giving communities the ability to respond quickly after wildfire or disturbance, with seed that reflects the biodiversity and cultural values of the land itself.
More Workshops Anticipated — But Policy Must Lead
The momentum created through the first round of workshops has generated strong demand for more sessions. Practitioners, First Nations, nurseries, and plant specialists all want to continue the knowledge‑sharing and expand regional networks.
But McKenzie and Plett were clear: future workshops and organizational initiatives will depend on policy direction and support.
The expertise is there.
The willingness is there.
The networks are forming.
What’s needed now is the policy architecture that will allow this emerging system to scale across British Columbia.
Conclusion: A Foundation Built, Awaiting Policy Direction
The first phase of this work has done exactly what it needed to do: bring people together, surface scattered expertise, and begin building a shared, place‑based understanding of native plant restoration. More workshops are anticipated, and the appetite for collaboration is strong. But scaling this into a province‑wide system will require clear policy, organizational backing, and sustained commitment.
The foundation is built.
The people are ready.
Now the policy must catch up.
