Rosy Owl-Clover (Orthocarpus
bracteosus) – A Red-listed species native to BC's west coast. I saw a very similar
species this summer while working in the East Kootneys. Plants are only 20 cm
tall and their flowers are a brilliant pink – the most brilliant color I have
ever seen in a wildflower!!
As I was looking through the
Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation’s list of funded projects (HCTF 2012), I
was struck by how very few dealt with plants. From the HCTF, people have
received funding to enhance the habitat of Lytton elk, maintain salmon and
trout spawning channels, restore western painted turtle habitat, and prevent
rattlesnakes from entering human-inhabited areas. Other funded projects aim to
identify the bat species present during the winter in Southern BC while more
still plan to determine population sizes for BC’s steelhead and sturgeon fish,
grizzly bears in the Stein valley, and goats in the Shuswap region. And while I
agree with the need and idea behind many of these projects, I cannot help but
wonder – what about the plants?
In BC, there
are over 1100 species and subspecies of plants that are either red or blue
listed (BC Ministry of Environment, 2013). That is, in BC alone there are over
1100 plant species that are endangered, extinct, extirpated, of special
concern, or are threatened. Comparatively, there are only 400 animals in to BC
that fall into these five categories (BC Ministry of Environment, 2013).
Despite the overwhelming numbers of red and blue-listed plants, all of the projects I saw on the HCTF's website focus upon the “habitat protection” of various animals (HCTF 2012). Nowhere did I find a project with
the purpose of protecting a specific endangered plant species. And while protecting
the habitat of other animals does in turn protect the plant species that live
there, I cannot help but wonder if we are making a mistake by not explicitly protecting our
threatened plant species. I mean, it isn’t like plants are entirely useless –
all animals (including ourselves) depend upon plants to provide us with oxygen
to breathe, food to eat, material to make shelter of as well as to maintain countless
other ecosystems services.
I suppose the
point I am trying to make in writing this blog post is thus: Given that there are
almost three times as many endangered plant species than there are animals of
concern in BC, is it a good idea to focus only upon these animals and not on the
plants that all animals depend on? That is, if we forget to protect the plants,
where will it leave the animals?
BC Ministry of Environment. 2013. Plants & animals
search results [Red & blue list] - BC Species and Ecosystems
Explorer. BC Ministry of Environment, BC. Available from http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/search.do?method=process&searchType=COMBINED&bcList=Red&bcList=Blue
(accessed January 15 2013).
Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF). 2012. Approved
project list 2012-2012. HCTF, BC. Available from http://www.hctf.ca/News/newsrelease/APPROVED%20HCTF%20PROJECT%20LIST%202012-13.pdf
(accessed January 15 2013).
Just testing to make sure this works!
ReplyDeleteSome very good points! Plants rule!
ReplyDeleteI think it is essential to focus on both plants and animals. As you stated, without the plants animal diversity and survival may be jeopardized. Perhaps animal management is easier to carry out and more recognizable by the public as performing a protection service. Are the animals that are endangered partly responsible for the devastation to the plant species? Interesting topic here.
ReplyDeleteI did not realize that there are so many B.C. plants in trouble! It seems obvious that we should be trying to protect plants alongside the animals...
ReplyDeleteI was completely unaware of the number of threatened/endangered/of special concern plant species there were! Although, having had it brought to my attention it is no wonder that plants suffer - especially with the threat of human expansion. I might be making a false assumption but I would think that it's easier to bring the public's attention and compassion to an animal in need of conservation than to a plant. Humans tend to anthropomorphize more often with animals. Even gardening seems to be a dying art.
ReplyDeleteNice point, Alyssa. Perhaps the public isn't educated enough with the topic of endangered plant species as well? For me, plants all look alike. I could never tell the difference between two similar species, let alone realize that they are red listed. You hear about animals being threatened all the time but not many people recognize the importants of plants.
DeleteFirstly, it took me a while to make this work, so this will be short.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your blog. It was a very enjoyable read, although I think it would be interesting to hear more about specific species that are endangered in BC and what their significance is. However, you are right: plants are definitely essential to our continued existance and deserve our respect.
I ever really thought of the threats to plants
ReplyDeleteGreat topic! I never really thought about plants being endangered before.
ReplyDeleteThis topic was very interesting. When I think conservation, I automatically think animals. This was a real eye opener.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to know what plant conservation looks like. I suppose setting up national parks also includes plants in their protection. I agree that animals are more often conserved, and I agree with what others have said that the public would be more on board. But what does a plant conservation project look like? Planting seeds? Irrigation? I'm curious.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great read, I love angiosperms and I also did not realize how many plants were in trouble in B.C.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post. It is definitely a good point that we don't focus on threatened or endagered plants at all. Perhaps this is type of thing you might want to look into for the conservation project... but I also agree tiwht hannaiblings, what would this type of conservation project looks like?
ReplyDeletenice. interesting, and valid point. If people want to protect animals they are kind of putting the cart before the horse in failing to protect plants.
ReplyDeleteGood point. How can the animals live without the plants? Thank you for making me think!
ReplyDelete