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Stop Big Oil From Destroying New Mexico’s Rare Cactus

1,204 signatures toward our 30,000 Goal

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Sponsor: The Rainforest Site

New Mexico’s rare Clover’s cactus is on the brink of extinction, its habitat crushed by relentless drilling. Join us to protect this irreplaceable desert treasure before it’s too late.

New Mexico’s rare Clover’s cactus is on the brink of extinction, its habitat crushed by relentless drilling. Join us to protect this irreplaceable desert treasure before it’s too late.

In the deserts of northwestern New Mexico, Clover’s cactus, a rare and beautiful plant, teeters on the brink of extinction. This cactus, with its vibrant purple blooms, has adapted to New Mexico’s arid landscapes over centuries. But now, its future is in jeopardy due to relentless threats from oil and gas drilling, off-road vehicles, and livestock grazing1. As the cactus’s habitat dwindles, so does its chance of survival. This is an urgent moment for intervention.

A Unique Desert Treasure at Risk

Clover’s cactus is native to only a few New Mexico counties, including San Juan, Rio Arriba, and Sandoval2. These areas overlap with the Nacimiento Formation, a geological site rich in oil reserves. As energy extraction increases, so do disruptions to the cactus’s fragile habitat. Conservationists have sounded the alarm, citing soil degradation, pollution, and unchecked industry practices that destroy native plant life3. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has recognized the need for further research on this cactus, but delays in federal protection have left the species vulnerable. Each year that passes without action risks pushing this unique cactus closer to extinction3.

Legal Action to Protect an Irreplaceable Species

In 2020, conservation groups filed a petition to secure endangered status for Clover’s cactus, setting a one-year deadline for federal officials to determine whether it should be protected. Despite clear evidence of threats, the FWS has missed multiple deadlines. Recently, the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians filed a lawsuit to compel the FWS to act on this cactus’s critical needs4. Advocates argue that time is running out to save this cactus, which symbolizes a larger crisis in preserving fragile desert ecosystems from industrial pressures.

The Wider Impact of Protecting Clover’s Cactus

Preserving Clover’s cactus goes beyond saving a single plant. This species is part of a delicate desert ecosystem that provides habitat for many other plants and animals. The cactus’s survival signals a healthier environment for other native species and reflects a balanced approach to resource management in New Mexico. Endangered Species Act protection would enforce stricter rules around drilling, driving, and grazing in these areas, offering a lifeline for both the cactus and its ecosystem5. Federal protection could pave the way for broader conservation efforts, potentially saving more species from vanishing.

Take a Stand for Clover’s Cactus

Our environment is a shared responsibility, and every delay risks losing yet another piece of our natural heritage. Now is the time to act. Without protection, Clover’s cactus could vanish, leaving a hole in New Mexico’s biodiversity and a lost opportunity for future generations to experience its beauty. Help us call on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to recognize this cactus’s critical need for protection.

Sign the petition now to help save Clover’s cactus and secure a better future for New Mexico’s native desert landscapes.

More on this issue:

  1. WildEarth Guardians (2023), "Clover’s Cactus."
  2. Drew Baloga, Joanna Zhang, The Center for Biological Diversity (31 October 2024), "Lawsuit Seeks Endangered Species Protection for New Mexico Cactus, Rio Grande Fish."
  3. Marilyn Upchurch, KRQE (31 October 2024), "Conservation Groups Sue U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Seek Protection of Native Cactus in New Mexico."
  4. Michael Doyle, Politico (1 November 2024), "Missed ESA Deadlines Draw Lawsuit on Behalf of a Cactus and a Fish."
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The Petition:

To the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

We, the undersigned, urgently call upon the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take immediate action to secure Endangered Species Act protections for Clover’s cactus, a rare and irreplaceable native species found only in the fragile desert ecosystems of northwestern New Mexico.

Clover’s cactus faces imminent threats from extensive oil and gas drilling, off-road vehicle traffic, and grazing in its limited habitat within the Nacimiento Formation. Each year, these activities drive the cactus closer to extinction, causing habitat destruction, soil degradation, and devastating population declines. With no federal protections currently in place, Clover’s cactus remains vulnerable to irreversible harm.

Delays in protecting Clover’s cactus only deepen the challenges of conservation. Research and field observations confirm the urgency of action; every missed deadline puts this species further at risk of disappearing forever. The cactus’s survival isn’t just about preserving a single plant; it represents our responsibility to safeguard unique desert ecosystems that support diverse plant and animal life. Protection for Clover’s cactus could set the foundation for larger conservation efforts within New Mexico’s desert landscapes.

By granting Endangered Species Act protections to Clover’s cactus, we can curb destructive practices, enforce monitoring, and safeguard a critical part of New Mexico’s natural heritage. Acting now will help ensure that future generations inherit a landscape where diverse and rare species thrive, enriching ecosystems for the well-being of all.

We urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect Clover’s cactus now, for a better, more sustainable future for our environment and all who depend on it.

Sincerely,

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Signatures: