The
Division's Rare Plant Protection Program was established through
the Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act of 1985, and a formal cooperative
agreement between the USFWS and the State. This act directs the Department
to develop a state list of endangered, threatened and special concern
plants, conduct investigations on their status and conservation needs,
and conduct education programs concerning rare plant conservation. (The
State List of Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants is maintained
through the Natural Heritage Inventory Program) Under this Act the Department
is also required to license and monitor commercial nurseries which trade
in endangered plants. (This part of the Act is administered by the Natural
Heritage Inventory Program) The Act also authorized the Department to
enter into a formal cooperative agreement with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service that establishes the Division as the lead state agency in the
process of listing and recovery efforts for federally endangered or threatened
species of plants. While initially focusing only on the conservation of
rare plant species, the Program now conducts USFWS funded projects to
conserve and protect federal concern animal species as well. Through extensive
field investigations, research and management activities the Rare Species
Protection Program seeks to prevent imperiled species of plants and animals
from becoming further imperiled, to effect the recovery of federally listed
species so that they may be de-listed, and to prevent the extinction of
critically imperiled species.
Contact:
David Lincicome
Rare Species Protection Program Administrator
(615) 532-0439
[email protected]
