Rare Plant Conservation
BLM manages over 1,800 rare plant species.
More than 300 rare plant species are found wholly or mostly on BLM lands.
There are three types of rare plant populations. First a species can be rare because it occurs sparsely over a broad area.
Other rare plants have many individuals, but these are crowded into a tiny area, in some cases, a single county or canyon.
Lastly, there are rare plant populations with both few individuals AND a narrow geographic range: these are the very rarest plants.
The BLM Plant Conservation & Restoration Program manages rare plant habitat through restoration and planning. Continuing scrolling to see a Case Study of rare plant habitat restoration and to view projects across multiple states.
Through partnerships with California Conservation Corps, the BLM Arcata Field Office restores habitat for threatened beach layia (Layia carnosa) and endangered Menzies’ wallflower (Erysimum menziesii) on the coastal dunes of Humboldt Bay in northern California.
Dune mat species revegetate naturally from the seed bank once the three primary invasive species European beach grass (Ammophila arenaria), yellow bush lupine (Lupinus arboreus), and ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis) are removed.
No herbicide is used in the restoration for this work; all activities are based in manual removal techniques using shovels, Pulaski's and other hand tools.
This has been an ongoing effort on Mike Thompson Wildlife Refuge, South Spit of Humboldt Bay, Ma-le'l Dunes, and Samoa Recreation area in the Arcata Field Office since 2008.
Select a state below to learn more about its rare plants.
Colorado
Colorado. Click to expand.
The majority of the public lands managed by the BLM in Colorado occur on the western slope. A wide diversity of vegetation zones and plant communities are found in Colorado, with rare plants of concern found in semi-desert shrublands (sagebrush, saltbush, and greasewood dominants) and the alpine. Approximately 95 species of conern are found on BLM Colorado lands.
Idaho
Idaho. Click to expand.
Idaho BLM manages 236 Special Status Plant species from the wind-swept sub-alpine reaches of the Pahsimeroi range to the wild, dry canyon reaches of the Owyhee River and Hells Canyon and to the coastal disjunct conifer stands of northern Idaho.
New Mexico
New Mexico. Click to expand.
New Mexico’s rare and imperiled species include 13 federally listed species, 37 plant species listed as endangered in the State of New Mexico, 35 species listed as sensitive by the Bureau of Land Management, and 75 species listed as sensitive by the Forest Service
Utah
Utah. Click to expand.
In addition to 22 plant species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), there are 105 sensitive plant species (including two species proposed for listing under the ESA) included on the BLM Utah State Director’s special status species list for BLM-administered lands (IM 2019-005).
Colorado
The majority of the public lands managed by the BLM in Colorado occur on the western slope. A wide diversity of vegetation zones and plant communities are found in Colorado, with rare plants of concern found in semi-desert shrublands (sagebrush, saltbush, and greasewood dominants) and the alpine. Approximately 95 species of conern are found on BLM Colorado lands.
BLM Colorado's work is characterized by a unique partnership among agencies, principally the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in order to address recovery actions for high priority species on BLM managed public lands in Colorado.
For more information, please see the BLM Colorado Rare Plant Website .
Idaho
Idaho BLM manages 236 Special Status Plant species from the wind-swept sub-alpine reaches of the Pahsimeroi range to the wild, dry canyon reaches of the Owyhee River and Hells Canyon and to the coastal disjunct conifer stands of northern Idaho.
New Mexico
New Mexico’s rare and imperiled species include 13 federally listed species, 37 plant species listed as endangered in the State of New Mexico, 35 species listed as sensitive by the Bureau of Land Management, and 75 species listed as sensitive by the Forest Service
Utah
In addition to 22 plant species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), there are 105 sensitive plant species (including two species proposed for listing under the ESA) included on the BLM Utah State Director’s special status species list for BLM-administered lands (IM 2019-005).
BLM Utah works with its partners like the US Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA US Forest Service, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, universities, non-profits, and native plant partnerships to conserve and recover both federally listed and non-listed special status plant species.
