Department to review protections for rare Nevada buckwheat wildflower
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 11/12/2019 - 9:23am
CARSON CITY — Commencing this month, the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be undertaking a comprehensive review to determine if enhanced protection under state law is needed for the rare Tiehm buckwheat, a native plant species that lives exclusively within the Silver Peak Range in Esmeralda County, Nevada.
This unique species of desert wildflower has not been found anywhere else in the world, and is currently only found in particular geologic conditions in Nevada’s Silver Peak Range.
Since discovery of the Tiehm buckwheat in 1985, the Nevada Division of Natural Heritage has monitored the status and risks to the Tiehm buckwheat in its native habitat. Until recently, the species did not face any significant impacts in its remote location in Nevada. In recent years, however, there has been increased interest in and exploration for mining of critical minerals, such as lithium, in the Buckwheat’s limited known habitat.
Given these developments, the Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) will be reviewing the need to further protect the Tiehm buckwheat under Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 527. NDF is responsible for establishing protections, as needed, for Nevada’s threatened or endangered plant species.
A schedule of public meetings to review the status of the species will be announced soon. This undertaking will help guide the appropriate path forward to ensure the continued survival of this rare plant species based on the best available science and other criteria consistent with the intent of Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 527.260.
“Nevada is home to more than 150 plant species that live exclusively in our State, including the one-of-a-kind Tiehm buckwheat,” said Bradley Crowell, Director of NDCNR. “As part of our mission, the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is committed to protecting Nevada’s precious native species and sustaining our diverse biological heritage. Input from the public and the use of the best available science is critical to this process.”
