Endangered Species Protection
The voice for plants
For more than 50 years, the California Native Plant Society has worked tirelessly to protect rare and endangered native plant species and their habitats. We believe that to save a plant, we must save its habitat – a focus that makes CNPS one of California’s most influential and long-standing advocates for land conservation. By saving plants, we save places.
State and federal endangered species acts
The California and federal Endangered Species Acts (CESA and FESA) remain two of the strongest laws in place to protect wildlife (plants and animals both). However, California’s law, which uses clear thresholds and a permit process, more effectively secures protection for plants than does FESA. The Native Plant Conservation Campaign (NPPC) is actively working to address this inequity.
Endangered species protection requires ongoing vigilance. With each new development project, it is up to the public and non-governmental organizations to invoke the protections of CESA and FESA. Nobody will do it for us. Please support CNPS and NPCC in our efforts to secure maximum and lasting protection for our endangered native plant species.
Join us!
Help us fight native plant extinction in California.
How We Protect Endangered Species
CNPS works to protect rare and endangered species through a number of key initiatives:
The Inventory of Rare Plants
CNPS manages the the review and ranking of California’s rare plants through its online Inventory. This process helps make it possible for CNPS to identify and advocate for new endangered species candidates.
Endangered Species Listings
In partnership with experts on the CNPS Rare Plant Committee, CNPS has developed a model for drafting state and federal petitions. Read about recent listing victories.
IPA Initiative
As proposed projects like the Delta Tunnels and high speed rail trigger a new a wave of development, CNPS is building a priority plant conservation map using best-available science to identify and protect species before the bulldozers get rolling.
Advocacy and Public Comment
CNPS regularly joins environmental coalitions to help draft, amend, and influence laws and other public plans. We invoke state and federal endangered species acts to support our positions and recommendations.
Botanist Certification
When a development project is in the works, the environmental review process is critical. That’s why we worked with experts statewide to develop a curriculum and process that sets environmental reviewers up for success.
Local Action
CNPS chapters know the endangered species in their area and help determine conservation priorities to protect them.
