A rare orchid is no longer endangered, removing federal protections

The US Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to remove the Ute ladies'-tresses orchid from the federal list of endangered species. This means the plant will no longer receive special protections under the Endangered Species Act.

When a species is delisted, it means that the federal government believes its population has recovered enough to survive without legal protections. This also means that land developers and other actors no longer face federal restrictions on projects in areas where the orchid grows. The decision is based on scientific review, but it also opens up land for development that was previously restricted.