Native Plant Conservation Campaign News: New review published of problems with staffing, funding and legal mechanisms for plant conservation.
April 14, 2016
The new publication reviews several recent analyses of the state of plant conservation in the U.S. It also reviews some of the studies showing the role of plant diversity in the function and resilience of ecosystems.
The review of recent governmental, non-governmental and academic studies found that the dire situation in plant conservation detailed in the 2002 report has not been remedied. Instead, in many ways it has worsened.
This is particularly troubling because scientific studies increasingly find that conservation of plant diversity is crucial to maintaining ecosystem function and to the stable supply of
essential ecosystem services such as water purification, pollination, and soil fertility.
In addition, evidence is mounting that conservation of plant diversity is key to supporting local and regional resilience against climate change.
Findings include:
- In 1988, 72% of the top 50 US universities offered advanced degree programs in botany. By 2009, more than one-half of these botany programs had been eliminated.
- Under the Federal Endangered Species Act, listed plants receive the least federal funding per species of any taxonomic group
- Despite the fact that more than 50% of federally listed species are plants, plants are much less likely than other species to be considered in federal Section 7 consultations regarding potential impacts to listed species from projects such as logging or construction.
