First, do no harm.

Area of Science:

• Conservation Biology
• Ecology
• Botany

Background:

• Conservation actions for threatened species must adhere to the
• do no harm
• principle, especially in adaptive management research with incomplete knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the conservation strategy of using large stem cuttings for *Cycas micronesica* rescue on Guam.
• To identify potential collateral threats and assess the efficacy of this method in addressing primary endangerment factors.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of *Cycas micronesica* conservation activities on Guam.
• Evaluation of the viability and potential shortcomings of using large stem cuttings for tree rescue.

Main Results:

• Large stem cuttings offer a viable method for rescuing *Cycas micronesica* from construction sites.
• This artificial propagation method presents potential new threats to existing populations and does not address the root causes of endangerment.

Conclusions:

• Conservation strategies must prioritize mitigating primary threats over artificial rescue methods.
• Investing in addressing the core issues leading to endangered species listing (United States Endangered Species Act) is crucial for long-term species survival and potential delisting.