Next Steps: Implementing Change in New York City

Next Steps:

Implementing Change

in New York City

Background

How Things are Done Now Typical Project Lead Times Specification of ‘What Is Local’ in Typical

Project Documents

GOAL

To Maximize the Amount of Plant Material Used in New York City Projects from

“Local Genotypic” Material As Defined by a Set of Protocols Protocols yet to be Determined

Coordination of Project Information

Establish an:

Interagency Coordinating Committee

Create a:

5-Year List Of Planned ProjectsUpdate Regularly (Quarterly, Semi-annually, &

Annually)

Coordination of Project Information

Generate a:

Composite List of Projected Plant Needs

Plant Needs Listed Incrementally: 3-months, 6-months, 1-Year, 2,3,4,5 Years

Coordination of Project Information

Lists could be Updated over the Internet Lists could be Posted on the Internet

Establish Protocols For Determining “What Is Local” For New York City

The Same Interagency Coordination Committee could: Establish, Review, Refine, Update, & Change

Protocols as New Information becomes Available

Protocols

State Generalizations (where possible) Establish a Hierarchy of Acceptable Criteria

for Plant Procurement: Genetics, Seed Transfer Zones, Distances, Maps,

etc.

Protocols

Maintain Contact with Outside Experts Protocols should be Goals & Guidelines, not

Hard and Fast Rules Need Graduate Students to do Basic

Research

Improving Plant Procurement

Work to gain acceptance of Local Genotypic Plant Material as more than just another “Off-The-Shelf Stock Item”

Work To Change Procurement Policy

Improving Plant Procurement

Increase Seed Banking of Local Genotypic Seed in New York City.

Improving Plant Procurement

Increase Seed Banking of Local Genotype Seed in New York City.

Establish The Native Plant Center as a Regional Active Seed Bank

Regional Active Seed Bank

Dramatically Increases Number Of Species Seed Banked Dramatically Increases the Quantity Of

Seeds Banked Native Plant Center has the Storage Capacity Native Plant Center already Records

Provenance of all Seed and Plants at Nursery

Improving Plant Procurement

More Contract Growing For Large-Scale Projects With Long Lead-Times

Improving Plant Procurement

Establish a “New York City Certified Local Genotype” Nursery Stock Program Based on Protocols Established by

Interagency Coordination Committee First Preference would be Given to Certified

Nursery Stock (when available)

New York City Certified Local Genotype

Commercial Nurseries would Voluntarily Join as Cooperators

Certified Local Seed would be Provided by Native Plant Center to Cooperating Nurseries

Cooperators would Grow “On Spec”, but would be Aided by:

-the Composite List of Plant Needs and

-the 5-Year List of Planned Projects

New York City Certified Local Genotype

All Pre-certified Nurseries would be Eligible to Bid on Projects

If Certified Plants were Unavailable, existing Specifications for Procurement could be Used

New York City Certified Local Genotype

Would include Bulk Seed Products Native Plant Center Starting Program to Produce

Founder Seed Stock Would be made Available to Commercial

Growers to Produce “New York City Certified Local Genotype Bulk Seed”

Changing Policy

Relevant Agency’s and Staff: Agency Chief Contracting Officers (ACCO’S) Agency Chief Consuls The Procurement Policy Board The Office of Management & Budget

Changing Policy

Available Forums To Advocate Change: Mayor’s Office of Environmental Coordination Mayor’s Long-Term Strategic Planning Initiative

(LTSPI) Mayor’s Task Force on Sustainability (TFS)

Changing Policy

Mayor’s Task Force on Sustainability Add Preservation of Local Genotypes to the

Sustainability Agenda

Changing Policy

From The LTSPI/TSF Draft Document: Goals:

Increase Environmentally Preferable Products for purchase Develop rules and polices Identification of environmentally preferable products for

purchase

Expand outreach, training and Demonstration Projects