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Case Study
Did you know that the plants growing in your backyard may have important conservation stories to tell? The popular golden barrel cactus (echinocactus grusonii) is a case in point. This cactus is one of the most cultivated cacti in the world, with an estimated 10-15 million plants in cultivation today. Yet in their native habitat in central Mexico, just 50 of these cacti remain. The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (see In-depth Resources for more information) classifies the golden barrel cactus as “critically endangered,” meaning it is “facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.” Gardeners around the world are playing an important role in maintaining diverse genetic stock for this struggling species.
In-depth Resources
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) brings together 82 states, 111 government agencies, more that 800 non-governmental agencies (NGO’s) and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries. The IUCN mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. Perhaps the IUCN’s best-known work is its annual publication of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Each year, the organization evaluates the conservation status of plant and animal species worldwide. As a gardener, you can use this information to know the conservation status of the plant species you choose to grow. For more information, visit www.redlist.org. At this website, you can also click on “Links” to find more than 50 additional websites related to plant conservation.
In the United States, threatened and endangered species are classified according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Threatened and Endangered Species Program. Through the program’s website you can search a database of all species protected through the program.
NatureServe also provides a wealth of information on conservation issues and endangered plants, animals and ecosystems. NatureServe links science and conservation organizations in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. Online, the NatureServe Explorer compiles global, national and local conservation status information on more than 65,000 plants, animals, and ecosystems in the United States and Canada.
For information about local endangered plants and a wealth of other related conservation topics, access your home state’s department of environmental conservation.
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