Forest and landscape restoration commitments stimulate demand for native tree seedlings in rural areas and provide opportunities for local communities to participate in seedling production and generate income. However, seed sourcing for restoration is often not designed optimally to support and sustain community participation. Quality of marketed seed is also a common concern, as seed collectors and suppliers lack knowledge and tools for collecting genetically diverse seed. Here we describe interventions that can support or hinder seed supply for native species and community members’ participation in supply chains, using examples from field research in Cambodia and literature.