Environmentalists sought Endangered Species Act protections Thursday for a flowering plant found in the oil-rich Permian Basin.
Citing energy development as an existential danger, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Allred’s flax as threatened or endangered under the ESA.
“These beautiful orange flowers grow only on scattered gypsum outcrops in one of the most biodiverse deserts on Earth and they urgently need protection” said Krista Kemppinen, a senior scientist at the Center, in a statement, adding that “exploration and extraction of oil and gas resources could wipe these flowers out unless they’re protected under the Endangered Species Act.”
According to the petition, much of the plant’s known and potential habitat across New Mexico and Texas overlaps with oil and gas leases that are being drilled or could be. Well digging, building construction and road dust related to energy development are all said to degrade or wipe out the habitat.
