In an era of climate change, habitat degradation, and invasive species, the role of land trusts has become more critical than ever—not only as stewards of conserved land, but as guardians of local plant genetics. These protected lands serve as reservoirs of ecotypic seed—native plant populations that are uniquely adapted to their specific ecoregions. In southern New England’s Ecoregion 59, an innovative effort is underway to establish standards and protocols for wild seed col