SILVER CITY, N.M. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially designated the swale paintbrush, a rare desert flower found only in one location in southwest New Mexico, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act as of Dec. 4.
Standing at 19 inches tall with yellow-red hues, the swale paintbrush was once native to 13 sites across New Mexico and Mexico’s Chihuahua and Durango states. Today, the plant survives only on a 28-acre parcel of private land in New Mexico, with no confirmed sightings in Mexico since 1985.
“The disappearance of this ornate, almost luminous flower went unnoticed as cattle trampled our desert grasslands,” Michael Robinson, senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said. “Thankfully, this beautiful desert gem will now get the scientific attention and help it needs.”
The swale paintbrush faces numerous threats, including climate-change-driven drought, potential damage from livestock, habitat loss, and competition from invasive plants. The species also relies on specific grasses, which it parasitizes, to survive. Habitat changes caused by fire suppression and altered hydrology have further contributed to its decline.
The Fish and Wildlife Service plans to develop a recovery strategy, which may include reintroducing the flower to additional habitats to safeguard its survival.
The designation marks the culmination of efforts that began with a 2007 petition by WildEarth Guardians. Legal action by the Center for Biological Diversity in 2020 ultimately prompted the recent decision.
The Endangered Species Act has successfully prevented the extinction of 99% of the species it protects, providing hope for the recovery of the swale paintbrush despite its precarious status.
