Golden Paintbrush Recovery Is Latest Endangered Species Act Success Story

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Removes Golden Paintbrush from Endangered Species List

PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today finalized removing the golden paintbrush from the endangered species list after the flowering plant recovered in the Pacific Northwest.

Overview of the Golden Paintbrush

Historically found from southwestern British Columbia to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, the golden paintbrush is a short-lived perennial herb with bright yellow flowers that is covered in soft, sticky hairs. The plant, which can grow up to a foot high, was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1997, with only 10 known populations in Washington and British Columbia.

Recovery Efforts and Current Status

Now, thanks in part to replanting efforts, at least 48 sites of golden paintbrush have been documented. In Washington, there are 19 sites: five in the South Puget Sound prairie landscape; six in the San Juan Islands; seven on Whidbey Island, and one near Dungeness Bay in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. In Oregon, the paintbrush has returned to 26 sites within the Willamette Valley. In British Columbia, there are three known sites, each located on a separate island.

Importance of the Endangered Species Act

“We almost lost this beautiful flower, but thanks to the Endangered Species Act it’s now abundant,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Saving the golden paintbrush is yet another success of the Endangered Species Act, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. With climate change looming and a growing human footprint, we need this important law more than ever.”

Habitat Loss and Recovery

By the late 1990s, the paintbrush had been eliminated from the Willamette Valley due to habitat loss caused by fire suppression, invasive species, development, and recreational picking. Maintenance of the plant’s prairie and grasslands habitats helped support the paintbrush’s return to its native range in Oregon.

Impact on Other Species

The Fish and Wildlife Service expects the continued management of the paintbrush’s habitat will contribute to the recovery of a number of other species protected by the Endangered Species Act. They include Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly and three subspecies of Mazama pocket gopher in Washington, along with the endangered Willamette daisy, the threatened Kincaid’s lupine, and Nelson’s checker-mallow in Oregon.

Learn More about the Endangered Species Act

To learn more about the Endangered Species Act during its 50th anniversary, follow this link.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 15: Life on Land

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managing forests, combatting desertification, and halting biodiversity loss.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats

Target 15.8: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species

Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are related to reducing habitat degradation, preventing the impact of invasive alien species, and integrating ecosystem and biodiversity values into planning and development processes.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index

Indicator 15.8.1: Proportion of countries adopting relevant national legislation and adequately resourcing the prevention or control of invasive alien species

Indicator 15.9.1: Progress towards national targets established in accordance with Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators. However, the Red List Index can be used to measure progress towards reducing habitat degradation (Target 15.5). The proportion of countries adopting relevant legislation and adequately resourcing invasive alien species prevention or control can be used as an indicator for Target 15.8. Progress towards national targets established in accordance with Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 can be used as an indicator for Target 15.9.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: biologicaldiversity.org

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