How do threats to Canterbury plants potentially lead to extinction

Abstract

This article looks at some of the threats, decline and potential extinction facing Canterbury's unique flora. The author uses an analogy of marine disasters and extinction of biological species, as both involve similar risk situations. The challenge for conservation of plants in Canterbury is to ensure that we take remedial action when decline is at an early stage, while having in place rapid response systems that can evaluate and deal with those unexpected and unpredictable events that may be the precursor to extinction.