As the Summer comes to a close, NatureServe is reflecting on some of the exciting happenings from the last few months. Keep reading to find out about a game-changing update to NatureServe Explorer, a new landmark study on plant extinction, and the launch of our very first podcast series!

A new study reveals that 65 plant species have gone extinct in the continental United States and Canada since European settlement, more extinctions than any previous scientific study has ever documented.

Led by Wesley Knapp of the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, a professionally diverse group of 16 experts from across the United States collaborated to document the extinct plants of the continental United States and Canada for the first time in history. Their groundbreaking report has been published by the international journal “Conservation Biology”.

NatureServe is excited to announce the launch of its first podcast series, Conservation Conversations with Sean O’Brien. Geared towards both conservation professionals and casual listeners alike, this educational and entertaining podcast discusses how emerging technologies can benefit conservation, regional and global trends in biodiversity, and the future for life on Earth.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and be sure to subscribe and leave us a review!

Image Credits

Banner image: Common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale). NatureServe Global Status: Secure (G5). Photo by Jen Goellnitz.

"New Map Options Available on NatureServe Explorer" image: Piping plover (Charadrius melodus). NatureServe Global Status: Vulnerable (G3). Photo by Keith Carver.

"Study Shows Plant Extinction is More Common Than Realized" image: Franklin tree (Franklinia alatamaha). NatureServe Global Status: Possibly Extinct (GH). Photo courtesy of the John Bartram Association/Bartram's Garden.

"Evaluating adaptive capacity of species to climate change" image: Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas). IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC). Photo by Bruce Young, NatureServe.