When you think of endangered species, the first thing that usually comes to mind are creatures such as the white rhinoceros or perhaps a species of turtle. You might even think about honey bees, as their endangerment could lead to less pollination of flowers, leading to fewer fruits and vegetables. However, many people tend to forget that plants can also become endangered, too. Animals may get the spotlight, but it's just as important to protect plants.
Plants have many important purposes that need to be addressed. First, plants provide food and shelter to many species of insects and animals. For example, forests can be inhabited by hundreds of different species living together in one ecosystem. Second, plants help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Plants then turn the carbon dioxide gas into oxygen that we need to breathe. Carbon dioxide is also a greenhouse gas, which traps in heat and warms up our atmosphere. Plants work to absorb carbon dioxide so that Earth doesn’t get too warm. Third, the roots and microorganisms around plant roots help protect soil and help to prevent severe soil erosion. Fourth, we can’t have the food we eat today without plants. The cattle, chickens, and any other meat we eat depend on plants as their main source of food, not to mention that we need several servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Finally, plants also are important in the discovery of new types of medicine that could help revolutionize future drug discoveries, which could hold a variety of possibilities and allow for new breakthrough medicines to be discovered.
With all of these reasons, it would seem that plants are easily taken for
granted when compared to animals. According to the IUCN red list, 34% of conifers- the same family as pine cones, and 63% cycads- the same family as palm trees, are considered endangered. Thankfully there are legislations put in place to help protect endangered plants.
One of these legislations is the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES makes sure that international trade or wild plants and animals don’t threaten the species being traded. CITES protects plants that range from not near endangerment to on the verge of extinction. Some plants protected under CITES include orchids, cacti, pitcher plants, some cycads and palms, ginseng, goldenseal, and some tropical timber trees. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is in charge of implementing CITES in the United States.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was the first Federal legislation passed
in the United States that served to protect endangered plants. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is also in charge of carrying out the mandate of this act. The service decides whether plants are considered endangered or threatened based on the scientific and commercial information provided to them. Using this information, as of 2006, 474 plants were listed as endangered or threatened, while 117 of these plants were located in national forests and grasslands. The act then details protection measures that need to be taken.
States all have their own endangered plant law. While 15 states have a law that protects plants and animals in the same law, 17 states have separate laws for both plants and animals. However, 18 states don’t have any laws for endangered plants at all. They all serve the same purpose, which is to protect endangered plants, although each state law is weaker than the Endangered Species Act.
Just like animals, there are things that can be done to protect endangered
plants. One thing that someone can do is educate themselves. Getting to understand why plants become endangered can help to come up with ideas on what can be done. One way is to plant endangered plant species at home, but it is illegal to harvest endangered plants. Make sure the person selling the plant is reputable and isn’t doing so illegally before purchasing. When planting the plant, don’t use pesticides or herbicides as they are hazardous to the plants. Also, keep the plant away from invasive species as the invader can disrupt the native ecosystems. Other things that can be done are to preserve natural habitats which save many plant and animal species and to use reused wood or Forest Stewardship Council certified wood, highly recycled paper, and fair trade coffee.
Plants may be ignored, but there is still plenty to be done to help protect endangered
plants.
Sources
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/Rare_Plants/conservation/lawsandregulations.shtml
https://www.endangered.org/assets/uploads/2013/07/plantbookmarks.pdf
https://www.wikihow.com/Save-Endangered-Plants
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2018/04/why-plants-are-important/
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