Furbish’s lousewort (Pedicularis furbishiae) is a rare, microendemic plant species that is only found along the banks of the Wolastoq River in New Brunswick, Canada, and Maine, USA. Named after the botanist Kate Furbish, this unique species was the first plant to be designated as endangered in Canada in 1980. Sadly, population numbers have continued to decline and due to increasingly frequent and severe winter storms along the river, the New Brunswick population is threatened with extirpation.
Furbish’s Lousewort growing in the field bank. Photo: S. Winton
Fortunately, a dedicated team has been working to safeguard the future of Furbish’s Lousewort. Conservation partners are protecting and managing existing habitat, maintaining a seed bank and seed orchards, refining propagation methods, researching population genetics, and assessing suitable habitat.
To further this work and to inform an update of the Recovery Strategy for Furbish’s lousewort in New Brunswick, Canadian Species Initiative team members from Wildlife Preservation Canada and our partner African Lion Safari, who are part of the Regional Resource Centre for the Conservation Planning Specialist Group in Canada, designed and facilitated an Ex Situ Conservation Planning workshop. The workshop was held at the Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick and funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada via Priority Place funding.
Left, tour of the Altlantic Forestry Centre, and right, nursery grown Furbish’s lousewort. Photos: S. Winton
Workshop participants included representatives from provincial and federal governments, species experts and research scientists, land conservancies and landholders, and Indigenous knowledge holders. Together they evaluated alternative conservation strategies that combine in situ and ex situ methods and developed recommendations to support recovery of Furbish’s lousewort in the wild.
Left, meeting the focal species, Furbish’s lousewort (Photo: G. Forbes) Right, workshop participants touring the Atlantic Forestry Centre (Photo: S. Winton)
Thank you to all the participants and the incredible organizing team from the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development, The Canadian Forestry Service – Atlantic Forestry Centre, The Nature Trust of New Brunswick, and The University of New Brunswick who made this workshop possible!
“Some of us have been on this file for quite a few years and for the first time, it really feels like we can save this species.”
Below: left, tour of the Furbish’s lousewort field bank (Photo: G. Forbes) and right, the Wolastoq River, home of Furbish’s lousewort (Photo: S. Winton)
Stephanie was the 31st Canada’s New Noah and has stayed on with WPC to work with the Canadian Species Initiative to build capacity for species conservation planning in Canada. Stephanie has extensive experience working in conservation and research for species-at-risk risk reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds in Western Canada.
Stephanie Winton, the Canadian Species Initiative Coordinator gives a travelogue presentation on her experience working on reptile conservation projects in Mauritius as the 31st Canada’s New Noah.
Stephanie Winton, the Canadian Species Initiative Coordinator gives a travelogue presentation on her experience working on reptile conservation projects in Mauritius as the 31st Canada’s New Noah.
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