Rare Southeast Flower Gets Endangered Species Protection in Georgia, South Carolina – Center for Biological Diversity

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Protects Endangered Ocmulgee Skullcap

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 15: Life on Land – Protecting the Ocmulgee skullcap contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and supports the preservation of natural habitats.
2. Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – By safeguarding the Ocmulgee skullcap, communities can benefit from clean drinking water and healthier rivers.

Key Facts about the Ocmulgee Skullcap

• There are only 19 populations of the Ocmulgee skullcap remaining, with 10 of them having fewer than 20 individual plants.
• The flower is adorned with soft blue-violet petals and a white-striped lower lip, belonging to the mint family.
• It grows in moist, calcium-rich soil on river bluffs in the Ocmulgee and Savannah watersheds.
• The Ocmulgee skullcap faces threats from habitat loss and fragmentation, competition from nonnative invasive plants, and browsing or trampling by white-tailed deer populations.

Conservation Efforts and Future Plans

• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a final rule to protect the Ocmulgee skullcap as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
• A total of 6,661 acres of critical habitat have been designated for the flower in Georgia and South Carolina.
• The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Service in 2010 and filed a lawsuit in 2020 to advocate for the protection of the Ocmulgee skullcap.
• The proposed establishment of the Ocmulgee River corridor as Georgia’s first national park and preserve further supports the conservation of the flower and its habitat.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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

SDG 15: Life on Land

The article highlights the protection of the Ocmulgee skullcap, an endangered flower, and the designation of critical habitat for it. This aligns with SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The article mentions that protecting the Ocmulgee skullcap also helps protect rivers and forests in Georgia and South Carolina, which benefits communities by providing clean drinking water and healthier rivers. This relates to SDG 6, which focuses on ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

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

The article mentions that the Ocmulgee skullcap is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation from urbanization and logging. By protecting the flower and designating critical habitat, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking action to reduce the degradation of its natural habitat.

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

The article highlights the importance of protecting the Ocmulgee skullcap and its habitat for the benefit of communities, clean drinking water, and healthier rivers. This demonstrates the integration of ecosystem and biodiversity values into local planning and development processes.

Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes

While not explicitly mentioned in the article, the protection of the Ocmulgee skullcap and its habitat contributes to the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems, such as rivers and forests, which are essential for clean water resources.

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

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, the following indicators can be used based on the targets and their relevance to the article’s content:

Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index

This indicator measures the trends in the extinction risk of species. Monitoring the population and conservation status of the Ocmulgee skullcap can contribute to assessing progress towards reducing the degradation of natural habitats.

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

This indicator assesses the progress made by countries in integrating ecosystem and biodiversity values into national planning and development processes. Monitoring the protection and designation of critical habitat for the Ocmulgee skullcap can contribute to evaluating progress towards this target.

Indicator 6.6.1: Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time

This indicator measures the changes in the extent of water-related ecosystems, such as rivers and wetlands. Protecting the Ocmulgee skullcap and its habitat can contribute to maintaining or restoring the extent of water-related ecosystems in the Ocmulgee and Savannah watersheds.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: biologicaldiversity.org