AHLENSLAGER, KATHLEEN E. Colville National Forest, Colville, WA 99114. - Conservation of rare plants on public lands.
Managers of public lands are charged with conserving rare plants, but
information about the basic life history and ecology of these plants
is lacking. Each federal and state land agency has distinct mandates
and regulations under which it manages public lands. Federal and
state botanists assist in planning and implementing a variety of
diverse projects on these lands, including timber harvest, grazing,
mining, road-building, and recreation. These specialists survey
project areas, report rare plant sightings to state Natural Heritage
Programs, analyze projects for effects, propose mitigation measures,
and monitor rare plant populations. As budgets to carryout this work
continue to decrease, managers and academics need to coordinate our
efforts to prioritize work and establish long-term population
monitoring in order to understand each species’ response to
environmental variation and habitat management.
Key words: Botrychium spp., management, public lands, rare plants