A review of the status of the Pima pineapple cactus reveals that it requires a return on the federal endangered species list, as decided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
This means that new developments are needed that will save open space for it in the fast-growing Tucson suburbs. The Pima pineapple cactus is far more common compared to what was previously estimated, and it should be lumped with other more common pineapple cacti varieties, as been argued by some private biologists.
But, two studies from a private consulting firm that are questioning the listing were faulted by the scientists of the federal agency, including one of 14 outside scientists, wildlife service officials informed.
Defending both the WestLand Resources’ studies, Bob Schmalzel, a biologist for the private firm says that the population data provided by them
constitutes the best scientific and commercial data currently available.
Schmalzel claims that t
The Center for Biological Diversity’s Greta Anderson said that the threats to the cactus’ survival are increasing, with the science supporting its uniqueness as a species.he population data provides substantially more information than was available at the time of its listing in 1993.
