Texas Big Red Sage: Feds Push Endangered Plant Shield
Published Date: 1/21/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to officially protect the big red sage, a rare plant from central Texas, by listing it as endangered. This means the plant will get special protections to help it survive, but no new critical habitat areas will be set. People can share their thoughts on this plan until March 24, 2025, and the decision could affect conservation efforts and funding in the area.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Big Red Sage Listed As Endangered
If finalized, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would add the big red sage (Salvia pentstemonoides) to the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants and extend the Endangered Species Act's protections to the species. The proposal was published January 21, 2025, and the Service is accepting public comments through March 24, 2025.
Collectors and Nurseries Identified As Threat
The rule states that seeds and entire plants have been collected from the wild and that big red sage has been propagated and sold by commercial nurseries since 1986. The Service finds that collection from wild populations is a potentially severe, continuing threat to populations that are known and accessible to the public.
No Critical Habitat Will Be Designated
The Service determined that designating critical habitat for big red sage is not prudent and therefore will not designate critical habitat because publicizing locations would increase the threat of collection. The proposed rule explains that publicized locations would likely imperil populations accessible to the public.
State and Federal Conservation Support Noted
The rule describes existing and planned conservation efforts: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grants and a Service cooperative endangered species conservation fund project that will seek access to private lands, conduct surveys for new populations, collect seeds, and propagate seeds for reintroduction and seed banking.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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