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Santa Barbara Wildflower Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection

by Center for Biological Diversity
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— Following an agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed Endangered Species Act protection (see PDF) today for a rare wildflower found only in Santa Barbara County. The proposal to protect the Vandenberg monkeyflower results from a 2011 settlement with the Center to speed decisions on 757 imperiled plants and animals across the country. The proposal includes 5,785 acres of protected habitat. The beautiful yellow flower survives at only nine locations.
vandenberg_monkey_flower_usfws_fpwc.jpg
“This is great news, because only the full protection of the Endangered Species Act for the monkeyflower and its habitat will make sure this lovely yellow flower isn’t lost forever,” said Tierra Curry, a conservation biologist at the Center.

The monkeyflower grows in sandy areas at low elevations close to the coast in a region in western Santa Barbara County, known as Burton Mesa, which lies between the Purisima Hills and the Santa Ynez River. The biggest threat to the monkeyflower is competition from invasive plants. It is also threatened by military, residential and commercial development, fire and climate change.

The proposed critical habitat is made up of remaining native maritime chaparral vegetation, much of which has already been lost to development. The proposed habitat is located on or near Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve, La Purisima Mission State Historic Park and Vandenberg Airforce Base.

The Service placed the monkeyflower on the candidate waiting list for federal protection in 2010. More than 100 plants and animals have now gained protection as the result of the 2011 agreement between the Center and the Service.

“It’s fantastic that the Fish and Wildlife Service is making such great progress addressing the backlog of plants and animals in need of protection,” said Curry. “Now Congress needs to designate more funding to help recover our country’s endangered species.”

The original scientific name of Vandenberg monkeyflower, Mimulus fremontii var. vandenbergensis, was recently changed to Diplacus vandenbergensis.

Photo: USFWS

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2013/vandenberg-monkeyflower-10-28-2013.html

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/
§Endangered Status Proposal
by Center for Biological Diversity
2013-25397.pdf_600_.jpg
Endangered Status Proposal
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