**Threatened and Endangered Species**

Decline in plant populations is due to many complex issues, including
urban expansion, small acreage habitat degradation, and indirect or
direct destruction of plant species by humans. Destruction occurs
through introduction of invasive species, over harvesting, and
conversion of habitat to other uses.

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="1.7397637795275591in"
height="1.188976377952756in"}The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was
enacted to provide a means to conserve the ecosystems upon which
threatened and endangered (T&E) species depend and provides a program
for the conservation and recovery of these species. The Act directs all
federal agencies to employ their authorities in furthering the purposes
of the Act and to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize listed
species or adversely modify their critical habitat.

"Threatened" is defined as any species which is likely to become
endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant
portion of its habitat range. "Endangered" is any species which is in
danger of extinction within the foreseeable future throughout all or a
significant portion of its range.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) establishes listings of
plants and animals that require protection by the federal government.
State and federal listings of T&E plant species are available on the
NRCS PLANTS Database
([http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)).

**Technology Development**

Hawaii has more plant species listed as threatened and endangered than
any other state. Most of Hawaii's endangered species have been adversely
affected by invasive plants and animals. The Hoolehua Plant Materials
Center (PMC) is finding ways to propagate certain T&E species such as
ohai (*Sesbania tomentosa*). Ohai occurs on all the main islands except
Lanai and Niihau. It was last seen on Lanai in the mid-1950s. An
introduced species of deer is probably responsible for its loss. Mao hau
hele (*Hibiscus brackenridgei*) is the state flower of Hawaii and is
also endangered with only 60 known plants growing in just seven areas of
the islands.

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="2.6251968503937007in"
height="1.5311023622047244in"}California has the second largest number
of plants listed as threatened and endangered. Land conversion has been
identified as the main cause. The Lockeford PMC has a proposed project
to aid the recovery and eventual de-listing of several endangered plant
species in California.

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="1.1366141732283463in"
height="1.6145669291338582in"}The project, in cooperation with the
Agricultural Research Service and the USFWS, will collect endangered
plants throughout California, propagate them, develop a foundation seed
source, study methods of re-establishment, and release plants for
commercial propagation and eventual use in revegetation projects.

Efforts to restore populations of T&E species are often hindered by a
limited knowledge of their propagation.

![](media/image6.png){width="1.5728346456692914in"
height="2.333464566929134in"}The Manhattan PMC in Kansas is
reintroducing Mead's milkweed (*Asclepias meadii*) into the tallgrass
prairie communities where it is a component of the native landscape. In
cooperation with the Kansas Biological Survey, the Manhattan PMC is
conducting a propagation study on Mead's milkweed.

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="2.6251968503937007in"
height="1.958267716535433in"}

The Cape May PMC in New Jersey has provided technical assistance to the
USFWS and the

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in developing technologies to expand
seabeach amaranth (*Amaranthus pumilus*), which is listed federally as
threatened and by the State of New Jersey as endangered.

The Plant Materials Program also works with critical habitat for animal
species. The habitat for sage grouse has been threatened by conversion
to urban land and changes in grazing and vegetation management
strategies. Plant Materials Specialists, working with biologists, have
provided a list of diverse plants, including native forbs, grasses, and
shrubs and the plant technology to manage them, to land managers and
wildlife specialists.

**Ultimate Goal**

Our goal is to work cooperatively to avert species extinction worldwide.
Concerns are loss of a species as a biological entity, imbalance of an
ecosystem, endangerment of other species, and loss of irreplaceable
genetic material. The Plant Materials Program works with land managers
and land users to conserve these natural resources.