The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released a final recovery plan for Spaldings catchfly (Silene spaldingii), a rare plant found in four western states and Canada. The Services plan was developed with partners in four states, including Tribes; federal, state and local agencies; universities; heritage programs; and conservation organizations.
The species, listed as threatened in 2001, is native to portions of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada, and is found predominantly in bunchgrass grasslands and sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.
Learn more about sagebrush -steppe habitats, and occasionally in open pine habitats. It is a member of the carnation or pink family, and is a long-lived perennial herb. The plant has small greenish-white flowers, lance-shaped leaves, and ranges from 8 to 24 inches in height. It is distinguished by its very sticky foliage and flower petals, hence the name "catchfly."
The goal of the recovery plan for Spaldings catchfly is to recover the plant by protecting and maintaining reproducing, self-sustaining populations so that protection under the Endangered Species Act is longer necessary.
"We are committed to working with others to continue the efforts toward recovery of this rare plant, and we welcome participation in conservation actions that will further the recovery of Spaldings catchfly," said Jeff Foss, Field Supervisor of the Services Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office.
Spaldings catchfly occurs in five geographic regions: the Palouse Grasslands in west-central Idaho and southeastern Washington; the Channeled Scablands in eastern Washington; the Blue Mountain Basins in northeastern Oregon; the Canyon Grasslands of the Snake River and its tributaries in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington; and the Intermontane Valleys of northwestern Montana.
Habitat management plans will be developed for all key conservation areas in these regions, which will provide habitat protection through reduction of threats to the plant, including off-road vehicle use; adverse grazing and trampling by wildlife and domestic stock; herbicide applications; pollinator protection; invasive nonnative plant control through integrated pest management strategies; and fire management practices. Seed banking will preserve the breadth of genetic material across the species range.
A post-delisting monitoring program for the species will also be developed through coordination among the Service and interested partners in conservation.
The recovery plan may be viewed online at http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans and at http://idahoes.fws.gov. Hard copies and CDs of the recovery plan will be available at the following Service offices after October19, 2007:
IDAHO
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office
1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, Idaho 83709 (208-378-5243; fax 208-378-5262)
MONTANA
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Helena Fish and Wildlife Office
585 Shepard Way, Helena, Montana 59601 (406-449-5225; fax 406-449-5339)
OREGON
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, La Grande Fish and Wildlife Office
3502 Highway 30, La Grande, Oregon 97850 (541-962-8584; fax 541-962-8581)
WASHINGTON
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Columbia Fish and Wildlife Office
11103 East Montgomery Dr, Suite 2, Spokane, Washington 99206 (509-665-3508; fax 509-665-3509)
The Act requires development and implementation of a recovery plan for all listed species unless such plans would not contribute to their conservation. Recovery plans describe tasks that, when accomplished, should ensure the species survival and eventual removal from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. Recovery plans are advisory and carry no regulatory authority.
The Endangered Species Act prohibits malicious damage or destruction of threatened or endangered plants in any area under Federal jurisdiction, and the removal, cutting, digging up, or damaging or destroying of any such species on any area in knowing violation of any State law or regulation, or in the course of any violation of a State criminal trespass law.
Native plants are important for their ecological, economic, and aesthetic values. Plants play an important role in development of crops that resist disease, insects, and drought. At least 25 percent of prescription drugs contain ingredients derived from plant compounds, including medicine to treat cancer, heart disease, juvenile leukemia, and malaria, and to assist in organ transplants. Plants are also used to develop natural pesticides.
For further information, please contact Gina Glenne, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, Idaho 83709, 208-378-5243, fax 208-378-5262.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 97-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 548 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
