Project Title
RMRS and RNGR: the Intersection of Science and Technology Transfer
Abstract
The National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR), through a memorandum of understanding between the National Forest System, State and Private Forestry (S&PF), and Research and Development, has a mandate to transfer information about the collection, propagation, and deployment of native plant materials. The six-person team is comprised of S&PF’s three regional nursery specialists, the director of the National Seed Laboratory, and two scientists, Kasten Dumroese and Jeremiah R. Pinto, from the Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS). The team was formed in response to dwindling assets within the Forest Service, but its reach is more widespread. One major problem the team addresses is ensuring that nursery managers, reforestation and restoration specialists, and others in related fields have timely information. It is imperative that the growers and users of the billion or so native plants produced each year in the United States have the best information so that production is as efficient as possible, so that outplanting performance justifies costs, and reforestation and restoration plantings meet desired outcomes. This is especially true for underserved communities, such as Native Americans and citizens of the US insular areas.
During the past decade, Dumroese and Pinto have led key programs to meet the RNGR mandate. Leveraging support from the three Deputy Chief areas, their role is to ensure that projects and programs have a sound science foundation in addition to being effectively transferred. Dumroese is responsible for producing Forest Nursery Notes, a twice-a-year synthesis of topical, practical articles for native plant producers as well as a bibliography of current literature—subscribers can request reprints of those publications. Dumroese also was co-author on Volume 7 of Agriculture Handbook 674, The Container Tree Nursery Manual, initiated the Native Plants Journal, led production of Agriculture Handbook 730, the Nursery Manual for Native Plants, A Guide for Tribal Nurseries, and ensures production of the National Nursery Proceedings. Pinto serves as RNGR’s Tribal Nursery Coordinator, ensuring an annual meeting of North American indigenous peoples, the Intertribal Nursery Council. Pinto is responsible for the technical aspects of this popular meeting, which provides a forum for tribes to network about native plant production and restoration. Both scientists are now working on writing nearly 300 native plant propagation protocols requested by the tribes.
The quality of their products, and the effectiveness of the RNGR team, has been recognized through several tribal, RMRS, and WO awards, including the Earle R. Wilcox Award from the Intertribal Timber Council, the Two Chief’s Partnership Award, RMRS’s Outstanding Technology Transfer Publication, NFS’s Celebrating Wildflowers Award, and the Office of Tribal Relations Professional Excellence Award.
GSD Principal Investigators
| Dumroese, Kas | Research Plant Physiologist & Natl Nursery Specialist | 208-883-2324 |
| Pinto, Jeremy | Research Plant Physiologist & Tribal Nursery Coordinator | 208-883-2352 |
