The Forest Preserves of Cook County’s Seed Amplification Program (SAP) ensures that restoration efforts have a reliable supply of locally adapted, genetically diverse native seeds. Co-developed with the Chicago Botanic Garden, this initiative combines the expertise of conservation scientists, dedicated staff and local volunteers to scale up native seed production across the region.
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Our Approach
Native seeds are the foundation of healthy ecosystems: the plants they produce sustain wildlife, restore soil and water health, and make our landscapes more resilient to climate change. Yet nationally and locally, seed shortages and limited capacity threaten restoration success.
SAP bridges this gap by expanding local seed supplies through a strategic partnership with the Chicago Botanic Garden, which supports our goal by growing 14,000 plants each year and utilizing the Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank to safeguard genetic diversity. Together with our volunteer networks and workforce development teams, we are advancing the vision of the Next Century Conservation Plan through multiple strategies:
- Wild Seed Collection – Hand-harvesting diverse populations from across the preserves.
- Seed Beds – Growing specific native species in a controlled setting for reliable seed harvests, primarily at the Forest Preserves’ native seed nursery located at the Salt Creek Resource Management facility in Western Springs.*
- Wild Seed Gardens – Planting small-scale restorations of multiple native species in a natural setting for harvesting seeds.
- Large-Scale Grow Outs – Using large parcels of land planted with specific species for mechanical seed production.
- In Situ Enhancement – Growing rare and vulnerable plants in hothouses and other facilities from collected seeds, then replanting plugs and seedlings back in the wild.
- Seed Banking – Preserving long-term genetic diversity for future restoration needs.
* Efforts at the native seed nursery focus on locally adapted, genetically diverse seeds of priority restoration species, including common matrix species to increase landscape functionality and rare, conservative species that help restore and sustain biodiversity. Species and ecotype priorities shift based on the Forest Preserves’ evolving restoration needs.
People Powering the Program
In addition to our in-house staff leading the initiative, SAP is sustained by the collective stewardship of a broad network that provides the necessary resources to make this large-scale restoration possible:
- Chicago Botanic Garden – Research and propagation expertise.
- Various Volunteer groups – Collecting, cleaning, and caring for seed.
- Workforce Development – Training programs that build conservation careers.
Tracking Progress
SAP is data-driven. Each year, the Forest Preserves monitors the collections, production and restoration impact to measure growth and identify needs.
Get Involved
Help amplify the future of Cook County’s ecosystems:
Questions or comments? Contact Seed Amplification Program Manager Molly Marz.
Additional Resources
- Seed Amplification Program Creating Habitats that Thrive
- From Gardens to Large-Scale Restoration Projects, Native Seed Is the Gift That Keeps on Giving
- Prairie Therapy: Volunteers Find Purpose and Peace in Seed Collecting
- Good Seeds: Stewards Make Sure Native Plants Stay in Calumet Area Preserves
- Planting the Seeds of Conservation