More than 7,000 acres of critical habitat have been protected for two coastal plants in Florida: the aboriginal prickly apple cactus and Florida semaphore cactus. Critical habitat protection requires federal agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that federally funded or permitted actions won't damage or destroy the plants' habitat.

The aboriginal prickly apple cactus and Florida semaphore cactus are threatened by sea-level rise due to climate change -- and if worst-case projections become a reality, these plants will likely need to be reintroduced to suitable higher-elevation sites to escape extinction. The new habitat protections result from the Center's settlement in 2011 requiring protection decisions for 757 plants and animals around the country.

 

"By protecting these plants now, we can plan for their future survival in upland habitats," said the Center's Jaclyn Lopez. "The Service has done a great job of moving quickly to get these plants the protections they need to survive sea-level rise. Management under the Endangered Species Act will ensure that these two beautiful and rare species will be around for generations to come."

Read more in the Center’s press release.