Stewards of natural areas in the eastern U.S. have been finding creative ways to address their needs for locally sourced, genetically appropriate seed to be used in the restoration of high biodiversity and ecologically significant landscapes (natural areas). These efforts involve critically important partnerships between state agency and NGO natural areas conservation programs and local farmers, seed companies, academic institutions, partner NGOs, state wildlife agencies and state seed associations. Each state’s program is unique in their approach, funding source, challenges and successes. This webinar will feature a panel formed by practitioners from programs in Missouri, Virginia, Arkansas, and Kansas City.
Sarah Beier, Program Coordinator, Kansas City WildLands
Sarah Beier is a biologist who is passionate about connecting people to the land through experiences and education. As coordinator of the Kansas City WildLands Seed Team, she supports a decades-long effort to conserve, protect, and restore KC's remnant natural areas by involving volunteers in land stewardship.
Jerod Huebner, Director of Prairie Management
Jerod Huebner has been the Director of Prairie Management for the Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) since 2015. Jerod oversees the management of 35 sites totaling more than 4900 acres across the state of Missouri consisting of primarily remnant prairie and prairie reconstructions as well as woodland and glade habitat. Prior to MPF, Jerod worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation, for a total of ten years, in the Central Region and more recently the St. Louis Region as a Wildlife Biologist.
Phoebe Judge, Research Associate, Virginia Tech
Phoebe is a Research Associate in the Restoration Ecology lab at Virginia Tech and the Project Coordinator for the Southside Native Seed Project. She works with native seed stakeholders across southern Virginia to increase the availability of native Piedmont grassland seed for restoration and re-vegetation projects.
Prior to this position, Phoebe was the Seed Program Manager at the Southeastern Grasslands Institute, where she worked on the Seeds of Success project, as well as grassland restoration projects across Tennessee. Her background is in grassland plant community ecology and ecophysiology in the Southeastern US. She has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology from Columbia University and a Master’s in Ecology from the University of Georgia.
Jonathan Young, Habitat and Working Lands Program Manager, Audubon Delta
Jonathan Young has worked for the National Audubon Society for over 15 years and manages the NATIIVE project. He works with farmers, partners, and volunteers to produce local ecotype native seed materials for use in grassland restorations. He has worked on restoration projects on both Audubon owned properties as well as public and private lands.
Join the people who protect and manage our natural areas.