Virginia sneezeweed is no longer endangered, removing federal protections

The US Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to remove Virginia sneezeweed from the federal list of endangered plants. This means the plant will no longer receive special protections under the Endangered Species Act.

When a species is delisted, it means the government believes its population has recovered enough to survive without federal intervention. For developers and landowners, this removes a potential obstacle to projects in areas where the plant grows. It also means less funding and attention will be directed towards its conservation.