The Center for Plant Conservation: Twenty Years of Recovering America’s Vanishing Flora

Abstract

Nearly 25% of the United States’ 20,000 native plants are species of conservation concern, and 5% are listed or have been qualified for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). U.S. plants are seriously underserved in biological diversity conservation efforts, in spite of their fundamental ecological role and significant economic value. Plants comprise about half of the species listed under the ESA, but receive only about 5% of all federal funding for recovery and restoration. Current habitat-based preserve planning approaches may also fail to capture important plant biodiversity. A review of current approaches and potential modification to incorporate both fine scale and coarse scale species may be needed to protect national plant biodiversity resources. The Center for Plant Conservation coordinates a network of botanical institutions across the United States providing local, community-based recovery and stewardship of imperiled plant populations. These approaches are effective and efficient in providing the sort of small-scale efforts often needed to restore and maintain this biodiversity, and do so cost-effectively.