Rare Plant Field Guide

Table of Contents Home Introduction Acknowledgments Definitions Master Plant List USFS List BLM List Other Agencies Glossary References Plant Survey Form HELP! NDIS Home CNHP Home

CODES AND DEFINITIONS FEDERAL STATUS 1. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1993a, 1993b, 1996) E Endangered: taxa formally listed as endangered. T Threatened: taxa formally listed as threatened. C Candidate: taxa for which the Service has on file sufficient information on biological vulnerability and threat(s) to support proposals to list them as endangered or threatened species. (C1) FORMERLY: Notice of Review, Category 1: taxa for which substantial biological information exists on file to support proposing to list as endangered or threatened. (C2) FORMERLY: Notice of Review, Category 2: taxa for which current information indicates that proposing to list as endangered or threatened is possible, but appropriate or substantial biological information is not on file to support an immediate rulemaking. (C2*) FORMERLY: Taxa believed to be possibly extirpated in the wild. (3A) FORMERLY: Taxa for which the USFWS has persuasive evidence of extinction. (3B) FORMERLY: Names that based on current taxonomic knowledge do not represent taxa meeting the Endangered Species Act’s definition of a species. (3C) FORMERLY: Notice of Review, Category 3C: taxa that have proven to be more abundant or widespread than was previously believed, and/or those that are not subject to any identifiable threat. 2. U.S. Forest Service (USDA Forest Service 1994) S: Sensitive: those plant and animal species identified by the Regional Forester for which population viability is a concern as evidenced by: a. Significant current or predicted downward trends in population numbers or density. b. Significant current or predicted downward trends in habitat capability that would reduce a species’ existing distribution. 3. Bureau of Land Management (BLM 1990) S: Sensitive: those species found on public lands, designated by a State Director, that could easily become endangered or extinct in a State. The protection provided for sensitive species is the same as that provided for C1 and C2 candidate species. THE NATURE CONSERVANCY NATURAL HERITAGE RANKS GLOBAL RANK (G): based on range-wide status of a species G1 Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences, or very few remaining individuals), or because of some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable to extinction. (Critically endangered throughout its range). G2 Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences) or because of other factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. (Endangered throughout its range). G3 Vulnerable throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range). G4 Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. G5 Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. GX Presumed extinct GQ Indicates uncertainty about taxonomic status. GU Unable to assign rank due to lack of available information. G? Indicates uncertainty about an assigned global rank. TRINOMIAL RANK (T): used for subspecies or varieties. These taxa are ranked on the same criteria as G1-G5. STATE RANK (S): based on the status of a species in an individual state. S ranks may differ between Colorado and neighboring states based on the relative abundance of a species in each state. S1 Critically imperiled in state because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences, or very few remaining individuals, or because of some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state. (Critically endangered in state). S2 Imperiled in state because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences) or because of other factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the state. (Endangered or threatened in state). S3 Vulnerable in state (21 to 100 occurrences). S? Indicates uncertainty about an assigned state rank. SH Of historical occurrence, not documented in Colorado since 1920. Please send comments to: Colorado Natural Heritage Program 254 General Services Building, Colorado State University · Fort Collins, CO 80523 · (970) 491-2992