Conservation Priorities: The State of U.S. Plants and Animals

摘要

Reaching across the North American continent and out into the vast Pacific Ocean, the United States encompasses an exceptionally diverse and beautiful array of ecosystems, from majestic redwood forests to sweeping expanses of prairie grasslands. But how are the plants and animals of the United States faring? Which species are at greatest risk and most in need of special care to ensure their survival? Conservation of natural resources often requires difficult choices, and in an era of limited resources we must have clear priorities to answer questions like these. The 1997 Species Report Card: The State of U.S. Plants and Animals addresses this need by providing the latest figures on the condition of 20,439 species native to the United States.