**5. Conclusions**

In conclusion, this work brings to light the potential effects that climate change could have on the geographic distribution of the endangered species *Manihot walkerae*. An endemic of the Tamaulipan thornscrub ecoregion, it shares ecological relationships with other native species, and also provides beneficial genetic qualities to its relative Cassava. Climate change as a restrictor of distribution for this species could exasperate fragmentation and increase invasive competition. The geographic distribution of *M. walkerae* was overlapped with protected lands in the U.S. and Mexico in order to identify areas that could be suitable for future conservation efforts and to assess if climate change would change the usefulness of these protected areas. In the U.S., there are several protected areas that are potentially suitable for *M. walkerae*; future predictions show that a few of these protected areas will be no longer suitable for future conservation efforts for this species. While in Mexico no protected areas exist within *M. walkerae* suitable habitat, and conservation efforts will depend on the cooperation of private landowners. When developing future conservation plans, it will be necessary to incorporate climate change as a possible harmful factor alongside those that are known, especially as more lands with natural land cover are converted for human development.

*Forests* **2020**, *11*, 689

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, T.P.F.A., J.D., and J.G.M.-Á.; methodology, T.P.F.A., C.S.V.B., and G.G.; formal analysis, G.G.; investigation, G.G. and T.P.F.A.; resources G.G.; data curation G.G. and A.R.; writing—original draft preparation, G.G.; writing—review and editing, G.G., T.P.F.A., J.D., C.S.V.B., J.G.M.-Á., and A.R.; visualization, G.G.; supervision, T.P.F.A.; project administration, T.P.F.A; funding acquisition, T.P.F.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research was funded by the Section 6 Texas Parks and Wildlife grant titled "Understanding the ecological and geographic distribution of *Manihot walkerae*".

**Acknowledgments:** The authors would like to thank expert botanist Chris Best from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for providing us with occurrence data for Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuges. Much appreciation is also given to Anna W. Strong from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and Kimberly Wahl-Villarreal for providing information on *M. walkerae's* distribution and biology.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
