New Mexico has separate provisions for endangered plants and animals. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, through its Conservation Services Division, administers the Wildlife Conservation Act. (NMSA 1978 § 17-2-37 et seq.) The Act requires the listing of any species or subspecies of "wildlife indigenous to the state" as endangered or threatened on the basis of investigations and other scientific and commercial data, and after consultation with wildlife agencies in other states, federal agencies, local and tribal governments, and other interested persons and organizations.

The Forestry Division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) administers the Endangered Plant Species Act, passed in 1985.(NMSA 1978 § 75-6-1). This Act acknowledges only one status, "Endangered." Species of Concern have no formal protections.

STATE STATUS DESIGNATIONS FOR ANIMALS

E = Endangered
Any species or subspecies whose prospects of survival or recruitment in New Mexico are in jeopardy.

T = Threatened
Any species or subspecies that is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range in New Mexico.

STATE STATUS DESIGNATIONS FOR PLANTS

E = Endangered - The taxon is listed as threatened or endangered under the provisions of the Federal Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. Sections 1531 et seq.), or is considered proposed under the tenets of the act [10-29-85,]; or the taxon is a rare plant across its range within the state, and of such limited distribution and population size that unregulated taking could adversely impact it and jeopardize its survival in New Mexico. [10-29-85, 8-31-95]

SoC = Species of Concern - A New Mexico plant species, which should be protected from land use impacts when possible because it is a unique and limited component of the regional flora.

Sources: New Mexico Administrative Code, Title 19, Chapter 21 Part 2.8 (Criteria for inclusion of the endangered plant species list), and Robert Sivinski, State Botanist