Despite our best efforts, the current status of many populations of Californias rarest plants is not well-known. Furthermore, thousands of California rare plant occurrences have not been documented for decades. Up-to-date information on rare plant occurrences and their associated habitats are vitally needed to inform conservation actions and to aid planning efforts across the state.
As a result, the Rare Plant Treasure Hunt has been started to search for these rare plants and update data about them and their associated habitats. This project is almost entirely a volunteer effort and we need your help to accomplish our important goals! Right now field trips teaming botanists with enthusiasts are being planned to survey for high priority rare plants in areas with no recent botanical exploration. CNPS coordinators will provide participants with survey forms to record rare plant data, locations and maps of targeted rare plants and other materials to aid in surveying. This is a great opportunity for college botany and plant ecology students and graduates to apply their recently-learned skills to the conservation of Californias diverse flora. Land managers who are interested in having our volunteers search for rare plants on their lands are also invited to get involved. To participate in a trip, get materials and support to lead your own trip, or find volunteers in your area, please contact one of our coordinators. We are also interested in finding more land managers who need surveys conducted on their lands. Amber Swanson, [email protected] will be leading efforts for the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts and Danny Slakey, [email protected] will be leading efforts in the rest of the state. There has never been a better time to search for, study, appreciate and update the vital information needed to conserve Californias rare plants! We have several upcoming trips planned out for the 2011 field season, including trips in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, as well as a few Northern California trips: in the Bay Area, Mendocino National Forest, and at Walker Ridge, in Lake County. For more information on this project and survey forms, please visit: http://cnps.org/cnps/rareplants/treasurehunt/ or check out our Facebook page, which includes several trip listings: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rare-Plant-Treasure-Hunt-of-the-California-Native-Plant-Society/101385786569412
