Botany and Endangered Plants Program

New Mexico is one of the most biologically rich states in the U.S., ranking fourth in total plant taxa. More than 4,200 plant taxa have been documented statewide, including 235 rare species and over 100 endemics found nowhere else on Earth.

Eight distinct Ecoregions support this diversity, from the hot, dry Chihuahuan Desert to the alpine peaks of the Southern Rockies. Some species occupy only narrow wetland or riparian habitats, such ciénegas—rare desert wetlands that are increasingly threatened by declining water tables and other human-driven stressors.

The Forestry Division’s Endangered Plant Program maintains the State Endangered Plant Species List under 19.21.2 NMAC. The Program is responsible for conserving state-listed plants through research, surveys, long-term monitoring, habitat assessment, and public education. Staff collaborate with partners to gather data on distribution, abundance, habitat needs, threats, and other ecological factors to inform species status and conservation actions. The Program is primarily supported by Section 6 funding under the federal Endangered Species Act, with additional support from other state and federal sources.

Current and past project funding includes:

• Status surveys and reports on sensitive, proposed, candidate and listed species
• Writing recovery plans
• Writing 5-year reviews
• Collaborating on development of rare plant habitat suitability models (HSM)
• Coordinating and carrying-out recovery actions
• Long term population trend monitoring of endangered plants
• Resolving taxonomic questions
• Researching habitat requirements and population demographics
• Rare plant surveys and inventories
• Educational projects

New Mexico is one of the most biologically rich states in the U.S., ranking fourth in total number of plant taxa. More than 4,200 plant species are documented statewide, including 235 rare or endangered species and over 100 endemics found nowhere else on Earth.

Eight distinct Ecoregions support this diversity, from the hot, dry Chihuahuan Desert to the alpine peaks of the Southern Rockies. Some species occupy only narrow wetland or riparian habitats, such as ciénegas —rare desert wetlands that are increasingly threatened by declining water tables and other human-driven stressors.

The Forestry Division’s Endangered Plant Program maintains the State Endangered Plant Species List under Section 75-6-1 NMSA 1978.

The Program is responsible for identifying and conserving state-listed plants through research, surveys, long-term monitoring, habitat assessment, and public education. Staff collaborate with partners to gather data on distribution, abundance, habitat needs, threats, and other ecological factors to inform species status and conservation actions. The Program is supported by Section 6 funding under the federal Endangered Species Act, with additional support from other state amd federal sources.

Current and past project funding includes:

• Status surveys and reports on sensitive, proposed, candidate and listed species
• Writing recovery plans for federally listed taxa
• Writing 5-year reviews
• Collaborating on development of rare plant habitat suitability models (HSM)
• Coordinating and carrying-out recovery actions
• Long term population trend monitoring of endangered plants
• Resolving taxonomic questions
• Researching habitat requirements and population demographics
• Rare plant surveys and inventories
• Educational outreach

Useful Links for Native Plant Information: