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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Wallace

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01-30-08

HJM 28

SHORT TITLE Native Plant Day

SB

ANALYST Aubel

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources (EMNRD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 28 requests the Governor designate the last Saturday in August “Native

Plant Day" to increase public awareness of and appreciation for the native plants of New

Mexico.

The memorial requests that copies of HJM 28 be transmitted to the Governor and the President

of the Native Plant Society of New Mexico.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

HJM 28 does not directly carry a fiscal impact. However, any public education projects initiated

by the memorial could impact participating agencies’ operating budgets.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department provide the following background

information regarding native plants in New Mexico:

New Mexico plant diversity is very high with over 3,200 known native species, which

ranks New Mexico as fourth in the nation for plant diversity (only behind California,

Texas and Arizona). Approximately 100 species are endemic to the state and occur

nowhere else in the world. All New Mexico wildlife species are dependent upon native

plants for habitat and forage; native range plants support the livestock ranching industry;

all timber and other wood products are derived from native trees; and the cover of native

plant communities protect soil from erosion and contribute to the health of New Mexico

watersheds. Indigenous New Mexico cultures have relied upon native plants for a bounty

House Joint Memorial 28 – Page

2

of traditional foods and herbal medicines, and modern urban landscapes can and do

conserve scarce water resources by planting hardy native plants that are naturally adapted

to the arid environment of New Mexico.

According to the University of Montana INVADERS project, prior to 1907 -- during a period of

little regulation of the importation of goods and agricultural commerce -- about one hundred

exotics per decade were establishing in the five northwest states. During the period of World

War I, the Great Depression, and World War II, the number of successful introductions declined

to about 40 species per decade. The study maintains that with the expansion of global travel and

commerce since the 1960's, the number of new introductions is again approaching the pre-

twentieth century rate -- despite the enactment of numerous regulatory mechanisms.

As of June11, 2004, the database maintained by the INVADER project lists 33 invasive species

for New Mexico, with five listed as Class C—those that are widespread throughout the state.

The Bureau of Land Management states that one of the greatest obstacles to achieving its

primary goal of promoting ecosystem health is the rapid expansion of invasive weeds across

public lands. The agency notes that these invasive plants can dominate and often cause

permanent damage to natural plant communities. BLM maintains that if not eradicated or

controlled, noxious weeds will jeopardize the health of the public lands and the myriad of

activities that occur on them.

Studies show that the economic impact of noxious weeds can be substantial. For example, a 2003

study from the University of North Dakota estimated the grazing capacity lost to leafy spurge in

the four-state region of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming would represent a

direct economic impact of $37 million annually and a total (direct plus secondary) impact of

$120 million. When wildland impacts were included, the study reported a total annual economic

impact of leafy spurge in the four-state region was estimated to be $129 million.

PERFORMANCE IMPICATIONS

EMNRD suggests that enhancing public appreciation of native plants could have positive

performance implications by increasing awareness and public support for the Forestry Division’s

Endangered Plant Program. The agency states that several native plants -- such as piñon, juniper,

sagebrush, creosote -- have been mislabeled as “invasive species" by some private and public

land managers in New Mexico. The agency concludes that enhanced understanding of these

indigenous (not invasive) species could help shift the focus of native vegetation management

towards ecosystem and watershed health and sustainability.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

A request to the Governor to designate a day “Native Plant Day" will not be initiated and the

opportunity to generate greater public interest and awareness of New Mexico native plants and

the threats from invasive species will be lost.

MA/jp