Sep 9, 2005

New Study on Endangered PlantsSource: Associated Press

The Center for Plant Conservation, a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization comprising more than 30 botanical organizations around the country, is launching a “study of endangered native U.S. plants to determine their potential for recovery and in hopes of preventing their disappearance,” according to an article from the Associated Press (AP) .

The study will cost approximately $500,000, and it is going to “look at endangered or threatened plants and also those being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act,” stated the AP The study is expected to be finished by the end of 2006, and researchers are hoping that the study provides the most up-to-date information on the current plant populations the AP said.

According to the article, “The study of more than 800 species will give federal agencies information about how much endangered plant species they have on their lands.” “

We’re going to try to let them know what they’ve got, about the robustness of their populations and how what they’ve got stacks up against what’s available for recovery,” said Kathryn Kennedy, the center’s executive director in the AP article. “The study will also provide a summary of which species are most dependent on private lands for recovery.”