Caldwell First Nation awarded funding for WWF seed orchard project

Toronto Seed Orchard near Hamilton, Ont., a past seed orchard grantee. (Source: Ryan Godfrey/CNW Group/World Wildlife Fund Canada)

A project by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada has awarded grants to 13 projects proposed by organizations, businesses, and First Nations communities across the country to support the expansion of seed orchards.

Caldwell First Nation in Leamington has been awarded funding, which is aimed at restoring healthy ecosystems, protecting wildlife species and fighting climate change.

Seed orchards are used to increase the supply of native plants by producing seeds, and harvesting them to perpetuate the establishment of the plants, and preventing the need to harvest seeds from wild plants, which can weaken them.

Since 2021 the WWF Canada’s seed orchard program has supported the growth of 35,000 native plants in 20 seed orchards, with over 142 different plant species.

Other communities awarded include:

• Wolastoqey Nations in New Brunswick (New Brunswick)
• Fredericton Botanical Gardens Association (Fredericton, NB)
• Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg (Maniwaki, Que.)
• Paysages Écologiques (Rigaud, Que.)
• Bruce Trail Conservancy (Ontario)
• Hidden Habitat (Kilworthy, Ont.)
• Matawa First Nations Management (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
• Northern Wildflowers (Lively, Ont.)
• Sioux Valley Dakota Nation (Griswold, Man.)
• Redd Fish River Society (Ucluelet, BC)
• Satinflower Nursery (Victoria, BC)
• Streamside Native Plants (Bowser, BC)

Projects include

• Establishing seed orchards and training youth in seed collection to expand the supply of native seeds and plants available for eco-cultural restoration work on traditional territory (Sioux Valley Dakota Nation)
• Starting a new native plant and seed nursery for habitat gardeners in the Montreal Area (Paysages Écologiques)
• Establishing a first-in-Canada kelp orchard for use in coastal restoration work on Vancouver Island (Redd Fish River Society)
• Establishing and expanding seed orchards and training volunteers in seed collection to increase awareness and the supply of native plants in New Brunswick (Fredericton Botanical Garden Association)
• Working with volunteers and landowners adjacent to Ontario’s iconic Bruce Trail to expand restoration efforts along the Niagara Escarpment (Bruce Trail Conservancy)