ArtPlantae Today

The conservation of rare, threatened and endangered flora typically requires the protection of these species from the general population. There have been many instances in which these species have been inadvertently destroyed. Because of this, most of the information on the location of these precious flora has been kept secret by conservation agencies.

If you are willing to make the effort to illustrate these species in their natural environment, here are some reliable sources of information about the general locations of protected plants. The following resources will be of particular interest to conservation-minded artists in southern California:

1. Center for Plant Conservation (http://www.centerforplantconservation.org)
2. California Department of Fish and Game (http://www.dfg.ca.gov)
3. Western Riverside Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (http://ecoregion.ucr.edu/list_head.asp)

Exploring these websites will help you narrow down your search for these species so that you can find them in their natural habitat and illustrate them as they occur naturally. Please use this information responsibly and remember that you should never impact these species or their habitats during your search or while you are drawing them in you sketchbooks.

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As botanical artists and illustrators, you do not need to be convinced of the value of plants. Your fascination with all things botanical fuels your respect for the botanical world and motivates you to select your subjects carefully so that you can portray them in informative and captivating ways. In spite of your collective energy, however, some of the most amazing flora have never been illustrated sufficiently because they are so rare. Take, for example, selected plant species in southern California that are known only by their genetics. In most cases, illustrations depicting their beauty are simply absent. The need to depict these species is critical.

People are often unaware that the flower they are walking past is actually a rare plant species. Unfortunately, only seasoned botanists and geneticists can identify these species. It is critical in situations like these that botanical illustrators describe these plants visually to others so that they can be better understood and appreciated.

Federal and state environmental agencies, as well as a few other groups, have developed a common classification system with which to describe the rarity of a species. This system classifies plants as being either endangered or threatened. Endangered species are species that are in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range. Threatened species are species that are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. This classification system aids in species conservation. If these species were more reliably recognizable, this would facilitate the process of protecting them and describing them for future generations. The value of depicting these precious species is beyond measure and is unquestionably one of the most noble and fulfilling undertakings that can be pursued.

About Victor Horchar
Victor has been a professional environmental ecologist for 25 years, with detailed knowledge of natural history and legal protections afforded the native flora and fauna of southern California. As an environmental ecologist, Mr. Horchar works with private developers, the State of California and the federal government in designing development projects to minimize environmental impacts while maintaining project integrity. We are pleased to welcome Mr. Horchar as a contributor to ArtPlantae Today.

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