Celebrating 50 Years of the Endangered Species Act (with Two Plants Getting Off the List!)

Two plants endemic to California’s Channel Islands in the United States no longer require the protection of the Endangered Species Act, adding them to the list of the islands’ species that have successfully recovered.

“Today we celebrate the flourishing return of two plant species to the Channel Islands thanks to the tireless work of scientists, land managers, and the local community to restore the health of California’s island ecosystems,” explains Paul Souza, regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region. “We also celebrate 50 years of the Endangered Species Act, a bedrock conservation law and catalyst that brings momentum, energy, and attention to help recover species that need it most.”  

The two plants – the Santa Cruz Island Dudleya and island bedstraw – are no longer under the Endangered Species Act, as are the island fox, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, California brown pelican, and island night lizard. On San Clemente Island, five species have also successfully recovered: San Clemente Island paintbrush, lotus, larkspur and bush-mallow plants, and San Clemente Bell’s sparrow. The Endangered Species Act saves 99% of listed species from extinction.