How to Help Endangered Plants

Plants receive the endangered distinction when they are threatened with extinction. Over time, countless plants have become extinct through natural occurrences. Although extinction is a natural process, it is no longer caused by nature alone. It is more often because of the destruction of plants' habitat, direct killing or the introduction of outside organisms. All of these stem from people and their actions. Help endangered plants by learning to protect them, supporting the efforts of environmental groups, and learning to what to plant and what not to plant.

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  Try not to disturb endangered plants in their natural environments. Morning Wildflower III image by Ward Irvin from Fotolia.com

  Protect habitats where endangered plants live. Support national reserves, national parks and wilderness refuges. They rely on donations.

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  Visit a nature reserve or national park. Many parks offer guided tours to visitors. Speak with rangers about the efforts being made to protect the plants.

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  Join a group that supports the local lands. Volunteers are often needed to remove weeds and trash, as well as to plant native species. Reach out to a parks council or authority for information. The native plants have a better chance of regenerating if their environment is cared for.

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  Attend meetings regarding water and land use proposals. Water management districts, planning councils, building and codes, and county and city commissions make decisions that affect biological diversity. Being informed means you can be involved in helping endangered plants to survive.

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  Tell friends who have a lot of land, such as farmers, to leave patches of bush in their natural state. They can become wildlife habitats if they are not planted or mowed.

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  Obey the wildlife code when visiting protected lands. Don't bring pets, follow the fire regulations, don't pick up objects such as plants, rocks or nests, and throw away any trash you accumulate.

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  Plant native plants in your yard if you live in a region with endangered plants. Nonnative plants can spread seeds into the bush, changing the ecosystem. Native flowers, trees, grasses and bushes are more likely to attract native butterflies, birds and other insects.

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  Join a community group that is focused on conservation efforts in your region.