Rare Plant Program

Uses of the CNPS Inventory

The California Native Plant Society has invested a large amount of time, energy, and money to gather this rare plant information for one purpose: to promote the preservation of rare plants and their habitats. Our responsibilities are best served by complete and accurate information upon which to make sound conservation judgments and recommendations. Although there remain gaps to be filled, errors to be corrected, and refinements to be made, the information is here for all to use. The challenge for us is to use it wisely.

We encourage conservationists, consultants, planners, researchers, and resource managers to use this Inventory to educate landowners and public policy makers about rare plant conservation. The information it contains should help direct efforts to identify, protect, and manage California's rarest botanical resources. Consultants and planners preparing environmental documents should review this information as a step in determining the potential for resource conflicts and the scope of botanical surveys needed. Conservationists and resource managers can use the same information to review environmental documents and prepare public testimony to influence decision makers, and to guide rare plant protection and preserve acquisition and management. The CNPS policies reproduced in this volume should also be consulted for further guidance in these areas.

We are committed to the dissemination of accurate biological information to facilitate plant conservation in California. We offer our assistance to all involved in this arena.

We also welcome suggested additions, deletions, nomenclatural changes, and transfers from one list to another. We are especially eager to have errors brought to our attention. Please write the CNPS Botanist, California Native Plant Society, 2707 K Street, Suite 1, Sacramento, CA 95816-5113.