(Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) The acuna cactus is listed as endangered and the primary threat is development and mining operations. There are only five locals in Arizona where these cacti exists and only one of them is protected, that’s in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has moved to protect nearly 36,000 acres in Arizona as “critical habitat” for two types of cacti, the acuna and Fickeisen plains.

They’ve been disappearing because of drought, extreme temperatures and other factors. Environmental activists have cheered the decision.



The Show spoke with one of them, Michael Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity.