Colorado’s rare plants are irreplaceable parts of the state’s natural heritage. Native plant species help to make Colorado unique, but they are often overlooked ingredients of biodiversity. They provide habitat and food for wildlife, birds and insect pollinators, and are fundamental to the health of ecosystems. When native plants begin to disappear, the impacts are felt throughout natural systems. The biggest challenges for protecting Colorado's at-risk native plants come from habitat loss and break-up due to things like resource extraction, motorized recreation, housing and urban development, and roads.
