Ghost Orchid Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protections

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.— Following a petition and agreement with The Institute for Regional Conservation, Center for Biological Diversity and the National Parks Conservation Association the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect the ghost orchid as an endangered species.

The Service declined to protect critical habitat for the orchid, finding that poaching threats made it not prudent to do so.

“This is great news in troubled times and demonstrates that some environmental safeguards are still operating in the United States,” said George Gann, executive director at The Institute for Regional Conservation. “However, the decision not to protect critical habitat for the ghost orchid, while complicated by concerns of increasing poaching pressure, may reduce protections in areas under threat from oil drilling, off-road vehicles and other pressures.”

“This is welcome news for Florida’s famously cryptic ghost orchids,” said Elise Bennett, Florida and Caribbean director and attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “But with the Trump administration’s incessant attacks on landmark environmental laws meant to stop species from going extinct we know our job here isn’t done. We’ll continue to do what’s necessary to ensure the ghost orchid and every other iconic Florida species has a fighting chance to thrive in our beautiful state.”

“The ghost orchid is Florida’s most famous flower, and it deserves a chance to live. Thanks to today’s decision from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it will get that chance,” said Melissa Abdo, Ph.D., Sun Coast regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association. “This rare and uniquely beautiful species has captivated outdoor explorers and botanists for countless generations. Even as the administration works to expel hard-working, dedicated environmental professionals from the government, those same professionals are fighting to protect endangered species like the ghost orchid for future generations. That kind of courage and dedication is what we need to slow the extinction crisis and save species from being lost forever.”

The decision follows a slew of actions by the Trump administration intended to weaken species protections including mass firings of Service employees, policies to weaken species impact reviews and a recent proposal intended to gut habitat protections for endangered wildlife.

Ghost orchids are some of the most famous flowers in Florida, but their population has declined by more than 90% globally and by up to 50% in Florida. Only an estimated 1,500 ghost orchid plants remain in Florida, and less than half are known to be mature enough to reproduce.

The orchids are at risk of extinction from multiple threats including poaching, habitat loss and degradation and the climate crisis. With major hurricanes Irma, Ian, Idalia, Helene and Milton slamming southwest Florida over the last decade, the orchids continue to face above-normal Atlantic hurricane activity. Experts predictan above-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2025.

In late 2022 two people were caught stealing a ghost orchid and other rare plants from Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. In Big Cypress National Preserve proposals to drill for oil and to expand off-road vehicle access threaten the ghost orchid’s sensitive habitat.

The ghost orchid’s current limited range includes the Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and additional conservation and tribal areas in Collier, Hendry and possibly Lee counties. The orchids are found in Cuba as well where they’re also critically threatened.

Following a petition filed by The Institute for Regional Conservation, Center for Biological Diversity and the National Parks Conservation Association, the Service determined that the rare native orchid may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. The agency initiated a status review to inform a final decision which the agency was legally required to make in January 2023 but failed to complete.

The conservation groups are represented by the Jacobs Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment at Stetson University College of Law.

For partner media inquiries:

Tina L. Pugliese, The Institute for Regional Conservation, (561) 889-3575, Tina@PugliesePR.com

Elise Bennett, Center for Biological Diversity, (727) 755-6950, ebennett@biologicaldiversity.org

Jaclyn Lopez, Jacobs Law Clinic, (727) 490-9190, jmlopez@law.stetson.edu

About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org

About The Center for Biological Diversity: The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

About the Jacobs Law Clinic: Recognizing that the health of our environment and of our communities are inextricably linked, and entirely dependent on a functioning and just democracy, the Jacobs Law Clinic pursues and defends justice through advocacy focused on Florida’s most pressing environmental issues.

About the Institute for Regional Conservation: A private non-profit organization, The Institute for Regional Conservation (IRC) is dedicated to the protection, restoration, and long-term management of biodiversity on a regional basis, and to the prevention of local extinctions of rare plants, animals and ecosystems. Based in Florida, USA, IRC works on conservation research and action throughout South Florida, the Caribbean and beyond. Its vision is to unite people and nature to restore our world.