Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Rare Arizona Cacti Receive Much-Needed Endangered Species Act Protections
Acuña cactus and Fickeisen plains cactus imperiled by prolonged drought, climate change
Contact: Taylor Jones (505) 490-5141
Washington, DC – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) announced today that the acuña cactus (Echinomastus erectocentrus acunensis) and Fickeisen
plains cactus (Pediocactus peeblesianus fickeiseniae)
will be listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These
Arizona cacti have languished as candidates for listing for more than 30
years. The Service identified drought, climate change, vehicle and foot
traffic, and predation by insects as primary threats to the species.
“We’re thrilled these two amazing species are finally getting the protection
they need to survive and thrive,” said Taylor Jones, Endangered Species
Advocate for WildEarth Guardians. “Cacti are tough plants, but they need our help
in the face of unprecedented threats.”
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, one of the last remaining strongholds of
acuña cactus habitat, is a major travel corridor for immigration and smuggling,
and routes change constantly within the Monument, making it difficult to
predict the effects of both foot traffic and off-road law enforcement vehicle
traffic on the cactus. The stress of prolonged drought, combined with
predation, mainly by insects and small mammals, is likely responsible for much
of the cactus’ population decline.
The Fickeisen plains cactus is
scattered across deserts and grasslands on the Colorado Plateau in the Coconino
and Mohave counties of northern Arizona. Livestock grazing, long-term drought,
and predation by rodents and rabbits threaten cactus populations. The worsening
effects of climate change, particularly warmer winters, compound all of these
threats.
The acuña cactus and Fickeisen plains cactus are among the 252 candidate
species covered by WildEarth Guardians’ settlement agreement with the Service addressing the backlog of species awaiting
listing decisions. The agreement obligates the agency to either list as
threatened or endangered or find “not warranted” for protection all 252
candidate species by September 2016. “Today’s cacti listings represent the latest positive
step in addressing those species that have long awaited ESA protections,” said
Jones. “We are glad to see the settlement is working –
species like the cacti that face serious threats are finally receiving the
protections they need to survive and recover.”
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