CONTENTS

About the Bureau of Land Management ...... 1

Native Plants in America: An Overview ...... 2

Importance of Native Plants: A Wealth of Benefits and Services ...... 4 Foundation of Life and Biodiversity ...... 4 Their Role in Crops, Medicines, and Culture ...... 5 Their Role in Climate Modulation ...... 6 Their Role in Erosion, Flood, and Drought Moderation . . . . 7

Native Plants in Crisis: A Closer Look ...... 8 Facing Habitat Loss and Natural Disasters ...... 8 Facing the Threat of ...... 8 Susceptibility to Climate Change ...... 10 The Decline of Pollinator Populations ...... 10

Preserving and Restoring Native Plant Populations . . . . . 11 Categories of Protections Available to Native Plants . . . . 11 How Plant and Animal Protections Differ ...... 11 Responding to Climate Change and Habitat Restoration Needs ...... 12 What’s Happening Now ...... 14 How You Can Contribute to Native Plant Protection . . . . 15 1

About the BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

been designated as part of the and sustained yield in a manner The Bureau of Land Management National Landscape Conservation that best meets the current and (BLM) cares for about 245 million System, a network of lands future needs of the public . With acres of federally owned public afforded special status and so many resources and uses, lands, mainly in the Western managed almost exclusively to the BLM’s job is challenging . United States and Alaska. These conserve their scientific, cultural, Thankfully, countless partners, lands, representing about one- educational, ecological, and other volunteers, and communities eighth of our nation’s land area, values . provide invaluable support, belong to all Americans . In helping the agency carry out its addition, the BLM administers The BLM is responsible for stewardship mission . To learn 700 million acres of mineral managing public lands under more about your public lands, estate across the entire country. the principles of multiple use visit http://www.blm.gov.

Public lands are used for many purposes. They support local economies, providing Americans with coal, oil and gas, forest products, livestock forage, and other commodities . As a haven for plants and wildlife, they play a critical role in habitat and resource conservation efforts. They embrace some of our country’s most important historical, archaeological, and paleontological sites . Open spaces on public lands offer places for people to play, learn, and explore . In recent years, some BLM lands have 2 NATIVE PLANTS

NATIVE PLANTS IN AMERICA: An Overview

The United States is home to a endangered or extinct . vast range of wild plant life in Diversity, which is so essential a diverse array of , to stable, balanced ecosystems, including broadleaf forests, has declined. Some threats to temperate grasslands, and native plant communities are desert scrub. From tiny willows specific to particular regions. in the Arctic to swaying But others—such as the spread palmettos in the South, from of invasive species—exist carnivorous bog plants in virtually everywhere. More than the Southeast to seasonal 200 of America’s native plant wildflowers in the West, species are estimated to have America harbors an exceptional been lost just since the early variety of native vegetation. 19th century.

But America’s native plant As the nation’s largest land communities are under threat: manager, the BLM has a special habitat loss, overgrazing, responsibility and unique wildfires, multiplying invasive opportunity to slow or stop exotic species, chemical this decline . BLM public lands pollution, and climate change encompass more than 50 have all taken their toll . As ecoregions—areas defined by natural habitats have been degraded, native plant communities have lost their resilience, and many native plant species have become NATIVE PLANTS 3 the native plant communities The native plant communities they host. Sagebrush steppe on BLM public lands offer blankets the Great Basin, habitat for iconic western piñon and juniper woodlands wildlife species, as well as more surround desert grasslands than 70 wildlife and 170 plant in the Colorado Plateau, and species listed as threatened saguaro cacti reach for Sonoran or endangered under the Desert skies in arid shrublands. U.S. Endangered Species Native plant communities Act of 1973 . An even greater play a vital role in meeting number of rare and sensitive the BLM’s multiple-use, species—those that warrant sustained-yield mission special management attention because maintaining healthy to prevent future listing as ecosystems, conserving threatened or endangered— habitat for fish and wildlife, depend on BLM public lands . and managing unique These include more than landscapes all depend on 1,500 species of native plants . native plants . 4 NATIVE PLANTS

IMPORTANCE OF NATIVE PLANTS: A Wealth of Benefits and Ecosystem Services

Foundation of Life and Biodiversity

In North America, native species are generally recognized as those that existed on the continent prior to contact by Europeans in the late 15th century. The largest communities of native plant species in the U.S. are found where there is a variety of elevations, landforms, and climatic patterns and in evolutionary “hot spots”—those areas hosting many species of one genus . California leads the nation with more than 5,000 species of native plants, followed by Texas with more than 4,500. Native plant communities Plants provide the fundamental provide food, cover, and services upon which most nesting areas needed by life depends . Through animals adapted to a particular photosynthesis, plants convert ecosystem, tying together the water and carbon dioxide into fates of both the native plants the oxygen and sugars that and animals . Native plant provide the primary fuel for species significantly influence life . Plants are the foundation overall biodiversity and the of virtually the entire terrestrial fates of individual species food chain, sustaining humans adapted to highly specific as well as wildlife . Native habitats . For example, the plant species have generally Greater Sage-Grouse is a adapted and evolved with the large, ground-dwelling bird competing species, predators, that relies exclusively on and diseases of an area over sagebrush steppe plant many thousands of years. communities of the Western They are therefore usually in U.S., using sagebrush itself and reasonable ecological balance other native plants for cover with their associates and and food. Greater Sage-Grouse competitors . populations have declined as a NATIVE PLANTS 5

they provide extend to humans day aspirin. Native plants also as well, especially in the offer an irreplaceable gene form of food sources . Over pool for new medicines . For the centuries, farmers have example, in 2012, researchers selectively bred native wild from the University of Kansas’ plants into high-yield, disease- Native Medicinal Plant resistant crops. However, today Research Program identified 90 percent of the world’s food 14 compounds in the common comes from only 20 such plant U.S. wild tomatillo plant species; as a result, the genetic that exhibited anti-cancer makeup of each species of our properties in early testing. main food crops is essentially The new compounds are homogeneous . This lack of showing promise in fighting genetic diversity can result a number of different cancers in crop failure if the plants without any noticeable side face an unfamiliar disease . effects or toxicity. Scientists For example, in 1970, a new can only speculate about the result of loss, degradation, and fungus destroyed 15 percent countless other medicines that fragmentation of sagebrush of the U.S. corn crop. Each are waiting to be discovered; plant communities. Existing year, researchers find hundreds of the 250,000 known plant sagebrush communities are of new potential sources of species on earth, it is estimated subject to disease, insect food from wild native plants, that only 2 percent have been predation, and drought along which could be developed chemically analyzed for medical with long-term stressors, such into alternative or replacement potential . as fire, changing climate, and food sources . Two examples incursions of invasive species . on public lands are piñon nuts Today, there are about 40 in the Southwest and wild percent fewer Greater Sage- mushrooms in the Northwest . Grouse than in the 1970s, occupying only 56 percent of An estimated 40 to 50 percent the species’ historic territory. of existing medicines also The BLM and the U.S. Forest originated in native plants, Service are working with other whose medicinal qualities were agencies, tribes, and private historically discovered landowners to conserve and by trial and error. For restore the native plants in the instance, ancient remaining sagebrush steppe humans noticed that communities on both public pain disappeared when and private lands . they drank tea made from the bark of willow trees . In the Their Role in Crops, early 19th century, scientists Medicines, and Culture identified the therapeutic substance in willow bark as The benefits of native plants salicin, the chemical that led to and the ecosystem services the development of modern- 6 NATIVE PLANTS

For Native American tribes with Their Role in Climate in leaves and stems and below small land bases, BLM public Modulation ground in roots . The biomass lands are particularly important later decomposes to organic collecting sites . Native plants Once established, native plants matter in soils. Since native have played unique roles are also effective moderators plant root systems tend to be in Native American life and of climate . As concern has dense, their roots store great cultures for thousands of years. grown about the rising amounts of carbon relative to Plants are consumed for food concentration of atmospheric the leaves, stalks, and other and medicine, but they are carbon dioxide—one of the visible portions of the plants . also used in ceremonial rites principal greenhouse gases Forests are especially important and the cultural revitalization linked to climate change— in this regard, acting as major efforts currently being pursued so has interest in carbon carbon sinks . by many tribes. For example, sequestration. Plants facilitate in California, tribal elders use the sequestration process native redbud and sourberry by removing carbon dioxide plants in teaching younger from the atmosphere during tribe members basketry and photosynthesis and storing it other traditional arts . as biomass both above ground NATIVE PLANTS 7

Their Role in Erosion, precipitation before it hits the horizontal roots connect plants Flood, and Drought soil surface, reducing runoff in an interlocking grid, and fine and increasing infiltration. feeder roots form a network Moderation through the upper soil layer. Erosion occurs when wind, Native plant communities offer The complex root systems of water, or ice dislodges soil a variety of root systems and native plants also filter water, particles and carries the interact with lichens, mosses, absorbing pollutants as the particles off a slope, forming and other plants to capture water migrates into the ground . rills and gullies that can even moisture, reduce erosion, and These complex root systems trigger landslides . Raindrops increase penetration of water enable established native hitting the soil surface can into the soil, thereby reducing plant communities to better also meld the soil particles both floods and droughts. Plant withstand and recover after into a crust that prevents litter helps to develop organic wildfires and resist invasion by infiltration, promotes floods, layers in the soil that also can alien plant species . and destabilizes slopes . Native trap moisture. Deep, woody trees and shrubs intercept roots lock soil layers together, 8 NATIVE PLANTS

NATIVE PLANTS IN CRISIS: A Closer Look

Facing Habitat Loss reduce the fuel buildups that and Natural Disasters feed wildfires and to contain the spread of wildfires that do Overgrazing, residential and occur on public lands . commercial development, mining, and other human activities have adversely Facing the Threat of impacted many native plant Invasive Species communities through habitat degradation or loss . Natural After habitat loss, pesticide disasters affect plant habitats, use and invasions of nonnative too. Such events may have species present the greatest particularly intense impacts threats to native plants . In on those species with small a native ecosystem, species populations, restricted ranges, evolve together with checks slow reproductive rates, or and balances, such as pests, limited dispersal mechanisms . predators, and diseases, that For example, although some limit the population growth of native plant species actually any one species. When a depend on regular wildland fires nonnative species is introduced, in order to reproduce, a very it has no limiting factors, and hot, catastrophic wildfire may its population may explode, wipe out entire populations resulting in the loss of native as well as seeds that could plant species or native plant germinate in the future to communities . When nonnative restore the site . The BLM plants rapidly grow and spread and other land management over large areas, they are agencies work cooperatively to considered invasive plants . NATIVE PLANTS 9

Nonnative plant species often produces huge volumes of have characteristics that seeds and easily depletes soil enable them to out-compete moisture, so it establishes native plants for moisture, itself quickly on disturbed sunlight, nutrients, space, or sites . Mature cheatgrass plants reproductive advantage . For offer poor-quality forage for example, a nonnative plant livestock, and sharp-pointed may flower more frequently cheatgrass seeds can harm the and produce more seeds than mouths of grazing animals . local native species, giving it The most profound impact an edge in competition for of cheatgrass is its influence moisture. Some plants even on fire regimes. Cheatgrass produce chemicals in their produces large amounts leaves or root systems that of connected fuel, which inhibit the growth of other promotes hotter, larger, and plants around them . As a result more frequent wildfires. of such invasions, biodiversity is Because the interval between reduced, hydrologic conditions fires is shortened, native and flooding regimes are perennial vegetation is unable altered, erosion increases, to completely recover before habitat is degraded, wildfires the next fire. At the same time, burn longer and spread faster, cheatgrass continues to spread, and the genetic composition and the cycle continues. of individual native species Native plant communities, may be changed through such as sagebrush steppe, hybridization. are eventually removed from the ecosystem, resulting in a Cheatgrass is an invasive cheatgrass monoculture (when annual grass that is of only a single type of plant particular concern on BLM- grows in an area) . This invasive managed lands, many of plant has been identified as which are located in the arid one of the most problematic environments in which the within historic Greater Sage- species thrives . Cheatgrass Grouse habitats .

Nationally, public lands are being overrun by invasive weeds at a rate of 4,600 acres per day, and 4,000 species of exotic plants have established free-living populations in the U.S. Of these, 700 are known to adversely affect livestock pastures and agricultural lands, and more than 1,000 are a threat to natural areas. 10 NATIVE PLANTS

conservation efforts protect Unfortunately, some pollinator and manage large areas of species have seen a 90-percent habitat for native plants . decline in their populations Without these efforts, climate over the last decade, change will result in changes attributable most directly to in ecosystem structure and habitat loss or degradation the possible loss of essential due to human activities and ecosystem services. invasive plant species. Similar to the honey bee die-offs and hive collapses that have The Decline of been prominently discussed Susceptibility to Pollinator Populations in recent news, populations Climate Change of native bumble bees have For 75 to 95 percent of suffered significant mortality. Many rare, threatened, and flowering plants, seeds can Population declines among endangered native plants are only be produced when pollinating insects can have highly susceptible to extinction pollen is transferred between devastating effects when the as a result of climate change, flowers of the same species plant/pollinator relationship principally because of small by pollinators that visit flowers is very specific. For example, population sizes, restricted to gather nectar or pollen . the Joshua tree in the Mojave overall range, and limited Most animal pollinators are Desert ecosystem is exclusively suitable habitat types. Climate invertebrates, including flies, pollinated by a single species change can alter plant life beetles, butterflies, moths, and of moth and is unable to stages, such as leaf emergence bees . Pollen grains become reproduce without it . or flowering period, which attached to the animal’s body; may hinder survival and the pollinator then unknowingly reproduction . Various studies transports those pollen grains estimate that plant hardiness when it visits another flower, zones may shift up to 90 miles possibly resulting in successful north or south under the stress reproduction of climate change. Some of that plant . species will likely stay in place and adapt to new conditions; others will gradually migrate to new locations; and still other species will become extinct .

In the face of climate change, nonnative plant species can pose an even greater threat to native plants because nonnatives tend to do well in changing conditions, out- competing native plants for vital resources . It is crucial that NATIVE PLANTS 11

PRESERVING AND RESTORING NATIVE PLANT POPULATIONS

Categories of How Plant and Animal Protections Available Protections Differ to Native Plants The conservation process of The Center for Plant plants is different from that of Conservation reports that animals, because animals can nearly 30 percent of the native be relocated before a threat in the U.S. are considered to their population reaches to be of conservation concern . a critical level. Additionally, More than 850 of them are on individual animals can move the federal list of threatened quickly to a different locality and endangered species, which if they sense a threat to their is maintained by the U.S. Fish survival . Because of their lack and Wildlife Service. A species of mobility, plants often die is considered endangered when when calamity strikes. In many it is at risk of becoming extinct cases, plant communities in the near future (if not can be relocated only with adequately protected). A species great difficulty because of is considered threatened the specific climatic and when it is likely to become environmental conditions they endangered in the near future require to survive. (if not adequately protected). One of the best tools for Population numbers are not fighting species loss is the the only measure of biological Endangered Species Act (ESA) importance. High-priority of 1973 . Its purpose is to species often include endemics protect and recover imperiled (plants that are native to species and the ecosystems one specific area and exist upon which they depend. Since nowhere else) . These species it was passed, the ESA has are particularly susceptible been 99 percent successful to environmental change and in preventing the extinction are often indicators of unique of listed species . When listed and rare habitats . The BLM under the ESA, imperiled manages land with significant animals are protected wherever numbers of endemic species in they live, while listed plants California, Utah, Nevada, and are protected only on federal Arizona . lands . 12 NATIVE PLANTS

Because plants do not receive (4) coordination across ESA protection on private land, jurisdictional and political the BLM’s role in conserving boundaries, to ensure that native plant communities on native plant management is federal lands is critical . The both efficient and consistent. BLM manages special-status species, which include ESA listed species, ESA candidate Responding to Climate species, and rare species, on Change and Habitat public lands . The ultimate Restoration Needs goal for managing rare plant species is to prevent future The BLM Plant Conservation listing under the ESA, while Program works with partner listed plants are managed for organizations to bring conservation and recovery of American native plants to their populations . To address the forefront of conservation threats and maintain viable on BLM public lands . Across populations, the BLM’s Plant the western states and on Conservation Program focuses the scattered BLM public on four management areas: lands in the eastern states, (1) inventory, to understand the program addresses many where native plants are located aspects of plant species and how they are faring; (2) conservation, including planning, to include native native seed collection, plant management and rare plant conservation, conservation in all BLM work; restoration, native plant (3) monitoring and research, materials development, and to ensure that current native public education . These plant data and trends are used activities are accomplished in to make informed decisions cooperation with the program’s in managing the land; and partner organizations, which range from universities and businesses to nonprofit organizations, tribes, local governments, and other federal agencies . For example, several BLM field offices work in partnership with local tribes to facilitate the use of restoration seed mixes that include species with cultural and other value to tribe members . NATIVE PLANTS 13

Through its Plant Conservation make seed banking and native Program, the BLM has taken plant materials development a lead role in collaborating a vitally important adaptation with partners to develop high- strategy for natural resource quality seeds and seedlings of management, conservation, and America’s native plant species ecosystem restoration activities for restoration, rehabilitation, conducted by land managing and reclamation. The Seeds of agencies such as the BLM . Success program coordinates collection of seeds for research The BLM Plant Conservation and long-term conservation Program also has a partnership storage . The collection and with NatureServe to develop banking of seeds from native climate change vulnerability wildland species will help indices for cactus species safeguard those that face in portions of the Mojave, habitat loss and fragmentation Sonoran, and Chihuahuan resulting from climate change Deserts, where the BLM is and other disturbances . The developing solar energy Seeds of Success native seed projects. Vulnerability indices collection maintains specimens evaluate species’ sensitivity from more than 5,000 native to climate change. Scientists plant species . A portion of from the Chicago Botanic these collections is used for Garden in collaboration with research that will help increase Northwestern University are the availability of native also working with the BLM to plant materials and provide develop information on techniques models that reflect various for successful use of native climate change scenarios for plants in projects . This work more than 400 native plants is also done in conjunction found on BLM public lands . with other programs within The data from these scientific the BLM, such as testing studies can assist the BLM trials of native forb seeds for in making well-informed use in reclamation projects land management decisions in Wyoming. Uncertainties regarding future renewable associated with climate change energy projects. 14 NATIVE PLANTS

What’s Happening Now Partners, students from Kanab High School’s natural resource On a national level, the management class take field BLM works with the Plant trips to the monument to Conservation Alliance, a group identify native vegetation of more than 300 public and and collect seeds from native private organizations that share winterfat plants. Seedlings the same goal: “to protect are grown in their school native plants by ensuring greenhouse over the winter that native plant populations and planted at the monument and their communities are in the spring to restore wildlife maintained, enhanced, and habitat . In southern Nevada, restored.” Coordinating BLM staff and community with other federal agencies volunteers spring into action and organizations reduces when the iconic Joshua tree duplication of effort and experiences a rare year of pools resources for plant exceptional seed production . conservation . The seeds are cleaned and placed in conservation storage On a local level, the BLM through the Seeds of Success has numerous projects run program . These are just two by its many field offices. In examples of how partnerships cooperation with BLM-Utah’s and volunteers—all of us—can Grand Staircase-Escalante make a difference for native National Monument and the plants on our public lands . Grand Staircase-Escalante NATIVE PLANTS 15

How You Can Contribute to Native Plant Protection Learn more about native plants, get involved, and spread the word!

Visit the BLM Plant Conservation website at http://www. blm.gov/plants for more information on plant restoration, conservation, partnership efforts, and the Seeds of Success program .

Encourage conservation of native plant habitats in your local community.

Volunteer at BLM sites and in parks, national forests, and other public lands to help protect native plants and their habitats . To view available volunteer opportunities, please visit http://www.volunteer.gov.

Get involved with a local native plant group, , or garden club . 16 NATIVE PLANTS

Never collect native plants from the wild—they might be rare or endangered species!

Order garden plants only from reputable nurseries that propagate from nursery-grown material.

Talk to your local garden stores, and ask them to stock native trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials, as well as plants that supply nectar to pollinators.

Contact a local school, and share your knowledge and appreciation of native plants with tomorrow’s leaders .

Encourage schools to include plant conservation in their curricula .

Stay informed: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s endangered species database is at http://www.fws.gov/endangered, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service maintains lists of federal and state noxious weeds at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/ ourfocus/planthealth.

If you are at a BLM site or in a national or state park, national wildlife refuge, or other public land site and you think you may have discovered a new invasive species, contact the closest management office to report your findings.

Avoid inadvertently spreading the seeds of invasive plant species . Learn more at http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/ more/weeds/taking_action.html. This publication was produced by the BLM Division of Education, Interpretation, and Partnerships. Production services were provided by the BLM’s National Operations Center, Information and Publishing Services Section.

Additional copies may be obtained by contacting: BLM Division of Education, Interpretation, and Partnerships 1849 C Street, NW, LM2134 Washington, DC 20240 (202) 912-7457 March 2015 Visit www.blm.gov/education to explore BLM resources for educators . BLM/WO/GI-15/009+1115