The objective of this agreement is to perform a series of collections, EX situ studies, transplanting and monitoring to conserve and augment sclerocactus species in the southwest the work will first…

This $376,978.98 cooperative agreement from the Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management New Mexico Region will fund conservation and restoration efforts for endangered Sclerocactus species by the Desert Botanical Garden Inc. from September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2027. Under the Plant Conservation and Restoration Management program (CFDA 15.245), the awardee will collect seeds, plants and soil from endemic Mesa Verde cactus populations. They will preserve genetic diversity by banking seeds and growing plants from germination trials. Whole live plants will be used for seed amplification and monitoring transplanted populations. If additional funding is available, the awardee will gather more information on Mesa Verde cactus and test micropropagation techniques for population augmentation. They will also analyze the conservation needs of Clover's cactus and share protocols developed with partners working to preserve Sclerocactus species.

The objective of this agreement is to perform a series of collections, EX situ studies, transplanting and monitoring to conserve and augment sclerocactus species in the southwest the work will first project 1 focus on the listed mesa verde cactus sclerocactus mesae verdae mesa verde cactus have faced drastic declines over the last few decades there is agreement among partners in new mexico state, the navajo nation, the UTE mountain UTE tribe, and federal agencies that more must be done to help this species recover and not face further declines DBG will make multiple trips to collect seeds, plants and soil from endemic populations in new mexico and colorado to be brought to the hazel hare center for plant science at DBG DBG will bank seeds to preserve genetic diversity, perform germination trials on mesa verde cactus seeds and grow plants in the greenhouse from these seeds whole live plants will be used for seed amplification and to serve as comparisons to plants left in natural populations plants and seeds produced at DBG would be used to augment current populations, with monitoring to determine effectiveness DBG could also perform future work to benefit BLM and the american people if funding allows for project 2, DBG would gather more information and material for the conservation of s mesae verdae, including scouting for additional populations, soil analysis, and collecting seeds on different temporal gradients this would allow for a more complete understanding and preservation of the mesa verde cactus that would likely make the augmentation more successful for project 3, DBG would perform similar analyses as project 1, but on clover s cactus s cloverae this species is not currently threatened, but is of conservation concern and is often used in restoration projects managed by BLM and other federal and state agencies by gathering similar information on clover s cactus, these restorations and population augmentations would be much more successful for project 4, DBG would test micropropagation of mesa verde cactus this technique is being used to propagate endangered plant species because IT only requires a small amount of tissue if trials are successful, this would be a less invasive way of propagating mesa verde cactus for outplanting information in all projects will lead to a well researched protocol for population augmentation information would be freely shared with anyone working on sclerocactus conservation this work will benefit the american public, BLM and tribal partners through preservation of a listed threatened species the proposed work would benefit the public by working to conserve rare and endangered species rare plants, like sclerocactus, can face huge conservation challenges and continued threats they can also be key species in supporting the ecosystem this project will carry out the work to conserve these species so that they will be around for generations to come for BLM, this project will meet the administration s priorities of strengthening the government to government relationship with sovereign tribal nations, working to conserve at least 30 each of our lands and waters by the year 2030, and economic relief related to the covid 19 pandemic