Finally, "Extinct" Plant Brings Harmony Among Environmentalists, Scientists and Caltrans

It seems the discovery of the very rare Franciscan Manzanita plant has brought these competing interests together. Everyone, from scientists, Caltrans officials and litigious conservationists, apparently agree that the plant, which was spotted in the middle of the planned route for the billion-dollar Doyle Drive redesign, should be carefully moved to a new location.

The mazanita plant was considered extinct until recently when someone saw it in the Presidio, near the planned Doyle Drive project. The last time the plant was seen was in 1947.

After the plant was rediscovered,  vociferous conservationists were adamant about saving the "extinct" plant and allowing it to propagate. Scientists say the plant is most likely to flourish if it is moved to a new area where it is protected. The plant will likely be moved in January to an unidentified location in the Presidio.

This works well for Caltrans, which would probably like to move forward with its redesign project without a fuss.

"So far everyone has the best interest of the plant in mind," says Brent Plater, executive director of  the San Francisco-based Wild Equity Institute. "Maybe that's just because everyone's self-interest is pointing in the same direction."

This week, Plater's organization filed a petition with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, requesting that the plant be put on the endangered species list so that it doesn't go extinct -- again.

"This is a great opportunity for the Bay Area to close one of our coldest cases,"Plater said.