Iconic to sunny Florida, many palm species reside in the state.
Federal and state laws legally protect plants and wildlife that are classified as threatened or in danger of extinction. This protection extends to two of Florida's native palms on the state's endangered plant list.
Significance
Most palms that make Florida's endangered list are there due to decreasing numbers of natural remaining specimens. These palms face extinction if numbers don't increase. Low numbers are attributed to overharvesting for commercial purposes, disease, natural event or because building and development has severely affected native groves and natural environments.
Florida's Endangered Palms
The native buccaneer palm (Pseudophoenix sargentii) and the Florida royal palm (Roystonea elata) are listed as endangered. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is responsible for publishing the list of Florida's endangered and threatened plants. The list status changes as the population of endangered palms increases or dwindles and when new species are added or removed.
Legal Ramifications
The legal ramifications of harming or harvesting a palm on the endangered list falls under the auspices of the federal Endangered Species Act. Prosecution for offenders is possible from the state and federal level.
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