FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Colorado, Utah Wildflowers Gain Increased Endangered Species Act Protection

Oil and Gas Drilling Threatens Imperiled Plants with Extinction

The Pariette cactus and its cousins the Colorado hookless cactus and the Uinta Basin hookless cactus, are set to gain stronger protection under the Endangered Species Act because of the efforts of Center for Native Ecosystems and the Utah Native Plant Society. The three wildflowers, which range in northeastern Utah and western Colorado, are squarely in the path of oil and gas drilling. Today's news gives hope that the plants will be saved from extinction.

Pariette cactus courtesy of Dorde Woodruff

Denver—Three rare and declining wildflowers ranging in parts of western Colorado and northeastern Utah gained Endangered Species Act protection today, culminating a citizen-led effort to safeguard the imperiled plants from rampant oil and gas drilling.

"This decision is long overdue and finally provides the Pariette cactus with the separate recognition and protection it deserves,” said Tony Frates, Conservation Co-Chair for the Utah Native Plant Society. “The Pariette cactus is in danger of becoming extinct, and its status needs to be further updated to endangered as quickly as possible in light of extensive oil and gas development that exists throughout its extremely limited habitat which must also be protected."

In 2005, Center for Native Ecosystems and the Utah Native Plant Society petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the Pariette cactus under the Endangered Species Act.  In response, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to protect the Colorado hookless cactus (Sclerocactus glaucus), Uinta Basin hookless cactus (Sclerocactus wetlandicus), and Pariette cactus (Sclerocactus brevispinus) under the Endangered Species Act.

All three plant species bear brilliant pink-purple flowers.  The Colorado cactus is found along the Gunnison River near Grand Junction, while the Uinta Basin hookless cactus and Pariette cactus are found along and near the Green River of northeastern Utah.

While the Uinta Basin hookless cactus was previously protected under the Endangered Species Act,  recent studies supported the opinion of cactus experts that there were three separate species ranging in isolated parts of western Colorado and northeastern Utah all mixed together under a single prior listing.  Today’s decision makes clear that all three species need individual protection. 

Today’s finding is good news for the Pariette cactus, which lies squarely in the path of oil and gas drilling.  In 2005, the Bureau of Land Management authorized over 900 oil and gas wells to be drilled by Newfield Energy in the Castle Peak area, where key populations of Pariette cactus exist.    Because there was previously only a single listing, impacts to the three species were lumped together.  While the Pariette cactus can ill afford to lose even one population, federal agencies previously could justify the loss of an entire population by adding together all of the occurrences of all three species.  They will no longer be able to do that.

“The BLM needs to rethink its decision to drill the Pariette cactus into extinction,” said Jeremy Nichols, Conservation Advocate with Center for Native Ecosystems.  “We can have oil and gas drilling, but it needs to be done right.  Doing it right means safeguarding native wildlife, fish, and plants from extinction.” 

The Colorado cactus, Uinta Basin hookless cactus, and Pariette cactus all remain threatened by overgrazing, illegal collecting, off-road vehicles and energy development including related road and other construction.  Endangered Species Act protection will provide additional safeguards to ward off threats and prevent the extinction of the wildflowers.

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