Resources
Wild Seed Collection and Distribution: A Statement on Ethics and Standards
MARSB’s mission is to conserve and wisely manage the Mid-Atlantic Region’s wild seed resources through scientific sampling, ethical collection, banking, and curation, and to encourage and actively contribute to the development of the Native Plant Material supply chain throughout the region. In accordance with our mission, MARSB strives to facilitate a science-based conservation ethic towards wild seed collecting, banking, and distribution through the native plant material online marketplace.
As the market for NPM grows, so does the risk of overharvest or exploitation of wild seed – a sensitive and limited natural resource. Because MARSB does not have the capacity to fully verify the ethics and standards of external organizations' wild collection practices, we are not providing a platform here for wild seed distribution. We feel that this aligns with the highest protection and integrity that natural populations and habitats deserve. For more information on standard seed collection practices, see the following resources:
Vetting Disclaimer:
We encourage individuals to inquire about protocol, sourcing, and other standards-based guidelines pertinent to the products or services that you are pursuing with other marketplace users. We DO NOT claim to research, background check, or vet in any other way, users and accounts on this platform. With that in mind, MARSB encourages all marketplace users to exercise due diligence in your communications and any subsequent transactions, exchanges, contracts, or business activities with users on this platform.
Glossary of Terms to Know
MARSB recognizes that native plant material (NPM) terms and definitions can often be used interchangeably – and often hold different meanings for different users. The marketplace user glossary is intended to help clarify key terms used throughout the marketplace to facilitate shared understanding by users.
Ecoregion:
Native Plant Material (NPM):
Wild seed:
Bulked seed:
Demand/Needs:
Consumer:
Supplier:
Project (listing):
Organization (listing):
Defined areas of ecosystem similarity based on several factors including climate, geology, hydrology, vegetation, land use, and more. They provide an important spatial framework for structuring the management of ecosystems and natural resources.1
Two distinct types of NPMs exist: live plant materials and bulked Seed. Both types of NPMs begin the production cycle with wild-collected seed from extant ecosystems.2
Wild collected seed sourced from extant, large, healthy, and naturally occurring populations; referred to as Generation 0.3
Agronomically increased wild seed for the purpose of seeding large landscapes; generally, this involves a two-stage increase (Generation 1 and Generation 2 bulked seed).
In the context of the marketplace, both “demands/needs” broadly refer to the need for native plant materials, supplies, or services for a project or for an organization.
In the context of the marketplace, a “consumer” refers to any entity or individual that has a demand/need for native plant materials, supplies, or services.
A vendor, producer, grower, distributor, or provider of services.
In the context of the marketplace, the word “project” broadly refers to an operation which consumes NPM. Examples include: restoration projects, research projects, landscaping/horticultural projects, establishment of new growing operations in need of source material, or other use of NPM.
In the context of the marketplace, the word “organization” is used as an umbrella term, referring to the business, agency, non-profit, or other entity which you are listing on the Mid-Atlantic Native Plant Material Marketplace.
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