Save Cactus From Extinction!
The numbers are in, and cactus is the fifth most endangered species in the world, according to a recent article in the Christian Science Monitor. Turns out the prickly cactus is so beloved by landscapers that it is disappearing from its native habitat. Both legal and illegal plunder of cactus has brought one third of this plant's species to the brink of extinction.
The trade in cactus is difficult to regulate. Desert habitats are vast and unpopulated, making it easy for an unscrupulous trader in flora to dig up a cactus and sell it as a yard ornament. Sooner or later, it dies without reproducing itself because it was yanked from its ecosystem. Please join with me in asking the United States Congress to prohibit the import and export of cactus which is currently allowed under CITES licenses.
We the undersigned are alarmed and saddened to learn that one third of cactus species are in danger of extinction. It now emerges that cactus is the fifth most imperilled species on the planet. There are numerous threats to cactus. Habitat loss is certainly one, and pollution is another. However, it looks like the worst threat to this unassuming plant is its popularity with gardeners. Cactuses are legally and illegally dug up from desert regions and relocated to gardens where they are not supported by the local ecosystem. We ask that you stop the decline of this beautiful and valuable plant by banning the import and export of cactus in the United States.
