🌱Proposed Endangered Status for Ghost Orchid
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for Ghost Orchid
Summary
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii), a flowering plant species found in the United States in southwestern Florida and in Cuba as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the ghost orchid. After a review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that listing the species is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the ghost orchid as an endangered species under the Act. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants and extend the Act's protections to the species. We find that designating critical habitat for this species is not prudent.
Agencies
- Interior Department
- Fish and Wildlife Service
Business Impact
$$$ - High
The proposed rule to list the ghost orchid as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act has significant compliance implications for businesses, particularly in ecological management, land development, and agriculture, as it may require changes in operations to protect this species and its habitats.