Environmentalists on Monday sought federal protections for the Stansell’s daisy, a native Oregon plant they fear is threatened by nickel-mining plans in the region.
Citing in part the 100-plus claims purchased over the past decade by a Canadian mining firm, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition with the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the flower under the Endangered Species Act.
“These tough daisies are botanical unicorns who flourish in harsh soils, but multiple threats could quickly destroy their restricted habitats, so they need the Endangered Species Act’s robust protections to survive,” said Jeff Miller, a senior conservation advocate at the center.
Miller added that “it would be tragic to sacrifice the few wild places where these unique daisies live to strip mining, off-road vehicles and cattle.”
