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Terraformation Awarded National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant Funding to Establish Seed Bank and Native Seed Collection Program on Lānaʻi
Kailua-Kona, HI (November 13, 2024) – Terraformation, a native forest restoration company dedicated to addressing climate change, is the recipient of a $200,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to work with Pūlama Lānaʻi for a one-year project aimed at establishing a native seed bank and collection program on the island of Lānaʻi. Terraformation’s Internal Forestry Operations team, known as Terraformation Hawaiʻi, will implement the project, utilizing its on-the-ground team of experts in seed banking, nursery management, restoration planting, agroforestry, GIS, infrastructure support, community engagement, and business development. Headquartered at the iconic Gateway Center at Hawaiʻi Ocean Science and Technology Park (HOST Park), Terraformation Hawaiʻi operates three restoration sites, two nurseries, and a seed bank on the Island of Hawaiʻi.
The one-year project will support the collection and storage of native seeds on Lānaʻi to reduce genetic loss, mitigate the effects of climate change and weather, highlight the need for seeds to scale restoration, and increase community engagement around seed sharing.
“Adequate seed supply is one of the biggest bottlenecks to native forest restoration, and seed collecting and banking is a part of our daily operations,” said Johannes Seidel, Director of Hawaiʻi Forestry Operations. “We are honored to support the establishment of a seed stock for the Kuahiwi a Kai Program to support the future conservation and restoration of plant species throughout 20,000 contiguous acres of land on Lānaʻi.”
Terraformation Hawaiʻi will work within the Kuahiwi a Kai: Lānaʻi Watershed Conservation Program (Kuahiwi a Kai Program) for seed collection and preservation. Launched in 2019, the partnership program between NFWF and Pūlama Lānaʻi is dedicated to preserving and enhancing Lānaʻi’s unique natural and cultural resources from mauka to makai (mountain to the ocean), while encouraging community engagement and shared stewardship.
“We strive to preserve and enhance the island’s diverse species and fragile ecosystems through our core value of E Mālama iā Lānaʻi: To care for Lānaʻi as it cares for us,” said Kurt Matsumoto, Pūlama Lānaʻi president. “Partnering with Terraformation Hawaiʻi on this project will increase capacity for native seed collection and banking here on Lānaʻi, and strengthen community involvement in that work.”
For more information on Terraformation Hawaiʻi and ongoing conservation efforts, visit www.terraformation.com/hawaii. For additional information on Kuahiwi a Kai: Lānaʻi Watershed Conservation Program information, visit the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation website.
Our project teams have planted over one million biodiverse and native trees, stored 131 million seeds, supported 19 forestry projects, and created over 700 jobs through reforestation efforts worldwide.
Our innovative approach not only equips local forestry teams with training, technology, and access to capital, but also empowers businesses to be a part of the solution to climate change. By investing in our projects, businesses can directly address climate change, offset carbon emissions, meet net zero commitments, and enhance corporate sustainability initiatives.
Founded in 2020, Terraformation’s mission-driven global team, which includes experts in forest science, carbon markets, operations management, and business development, demonstrates how diverse backgrounds drive innovation and create significant impact.
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