U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Robbins’ Cinquefoil A Partnership Success

1819 The Crawford Path, one of the oldest recreational trails in the US and now part of the Appalachian Trail as it ascends Mount Washington, was built first as a bridle path through the Monroe Flats Potentilla habitat where over 95 percent of the world’s population exists in a one acre area.

1824 Potentilla robbinsiana discovered by Thomas Nuttall five years after completion of the Crawford Path.

Late 1800’s to mid-1900’s Potentilla robbinsiana recognized as rare. Over 850 specimens collected and at times commercially sold to collectors and herbariums.

1970s Backpacker boom. Hiker use of Crawford Path increases dramatically.

1980 Potentilla robbinsiana placed on the endangered species list due to human disturbance factors

1981 Appalachian Mountain Club institutes hiker education program to help reduce hiker impacts on the plant.

1983 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recovery plan for the species outlining steps necessary for recovery is approved; updated in 1991.

1983 Appalachian Mountain Club and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service relocate the Crawford Path and Dry River trails out of the critical habitat and develop scree wall closure zone to the public.

1983 Appalachian Mountain Club initiates long-term biological and population studies of the species to guide recovery work; minimum viable population model developed in 1990s.

1980s and 1990s Experimental work on propagation to establish satellite colonies of the plant. In 1990s New England Wild Flower Society develops successful method to rear seeds collected by the Appalachian Mountain Club and to accelerate their development into seed- producing adults for transplanting.

1990s and 2000s Two new successful plant colonies are established through transplant efforts by the Appalachian Mountain Club, New England Wild Flower Society, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

1999 In response to management techniques between 1973 and 1999, the population has rebounded 2.5 fold from 1,801 to 4,575 flowering-sized plants. The prospect for this pretty, diminutive plant has greatly improved as the population of adult-sized plants has increased over 2.5 fold since 1973.

A Partnership Success Robbins’ Cinquefoil This successful recovery effort over the past 22 years has been a collaborative effort by the Appalachian Mountain Club, New England Wild Flower Society, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S.D.A. Forest Service, White Mountain National Forest. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was the project manager that worked closely with the partners on all aspects of the project. The Appalachian Mountain Club was responsible for trail relocation, public education, research on the plants biology and population and transplant work. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

A Partnership Success Robbins’ Cinquefoil The New England Wild Flower Society oversaw the greenhouse rearing of the plant, long-term storage of seeds and transplant efforts. As the federal land manager, the U.S.D.A. Forest Service oversaw trail relocation, site monitoring and transplant work. In addition, scientists from the University of New Hampshire contributed by deciphering the plant’s genetics and reproductive biology and serving as an independent ecologist on the historic records and soil dynamics of the critical habitat. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Project Collaborators Appalachian Mountain Club New England Wild Flower Society U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S.D.A. Forest Service, White Mountain National Forest Project Funders Appalachian Mountain Club Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust National Forest Foundation National Fish and Wildlife Foundation New England Wild Flower Society Rivendell Foundation Rowland Foundation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S.D.A. Forest Service, White Mountain National Forest A Partnership Success Robbins’ Cinquefoil U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service