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EnglishWhat Is the New Mexico Rare Plants Website?
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The New Mexico Rare Plants website (nmrareplants.unm.edu) is an informational resource on rare and endangered plants in New Mexico, maintained through a collaboration of the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, the University of New Mexico Library, and the NM Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department–Forestry Division's Endangered Plant Program. It is useful if you want to look up a specific rare species, understand the state's conservation strategy, or learn how the official rare plant list is assembled and maintained.
What the Site Offers
The homepage organizes its content around three main sections, each serving a different purpose:
| Section | What it provides | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Rare Plant List | A searchable list of New Mexico rare plants, searchable by scientific or common name | Looking up a specific species |
| Rare Plant Conservation Strategy | The state strategy for protecting rare and endangered plants and their habitats through collaborative partnerships | Understanding conservation goals and management approach |
| About the List | Background on how the list is maintained, including the role of the New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council (NMRPTC) | Learning how the list is governed and what it covers |
Rare Plant List
This is the site's core lookup tool. You can browse the list of New Mexico rare plants or search for a specific species using either its scientific name or its common name. If you already know what plant you're researching, this is the fastest entry point.
Rare Plant Conservation Strategy
The strategy section describes the goal of protecting New Mexico's rare and endangered plant species and their habitats. According to the site, the approach relies on collaborative partnerships between stakeholders and interested parties to improve conservation and management—and explicitly aims to avoid federal listing of these species. This section is most relevant if you want to understand the policy and management context rather than a single species.
About the List
This section explains that the New Mexico Rare Plant Strategy List is maintained by the New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council (NMRPTC). The list focuses on 235 rare and endangered plant species in New Mexico, including one lichen. Use this section to understand the scope and authority behind the list before relying on it.
Who Runs It and Why That Matters
The site is a joint effort across three organizations: the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, the University of New Mexico Library, and the Forestry Division's Endangered Plant Program within the NM Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department. Because the list itself is maintained by a technical council (NMRPTC) rather than a single agency, the site functions as a shared reference point rather than a regulatory database. For questions of official status or permitting, treat the site as a starting reference and confirm with the relevant agency.
Practical Tips
- Search by either name type. The list supports both scientific and common names, so you don't need the Latin name to begin.
- Check "About the List" first if scope matters. Knowing the list covers 235 species (including one lichen) helps you judge whether a plant you're interested in would appear at all.
- Use the strategy section for context, not species data. It explains conservation goals and partnerships; species-level details live in the Rare Plant List.
- Watch the Current Events area. The homepage also links to rare plant news and field trips, which can be useful for staying current.
The site does not present itself as a pricing or subscription service; it is a public information resource hosted at a university address.