CALS - California Lichen Society, Conservation Committee

The California Lichen Society (in some ways a de-facto southwest lichen society) has an active conservation committee. This committee is currently developing lists of species it is interested in and gathering information on them. The immediate goal is to develop a solid list that could be adopted by the <a href="http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/html/cnddb.html" target="_blank">California Natural Diversity Database[/url]. Consequently, the CALSCC is using methodology closely allied with that of the CNDDB and other Natural Heritage programs.

At this point we are still in the early stages. We are using a very cautious method, so it will be some time before the public sees many results. However, progress is being made. Indeed, the discussion boards you are reading are a direct result of the January'05 meeting of the CALSCC!

-Eric Peterson
CALS Conservation Committee chair