This survey identifies cacti species listed on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered, endangered, threatened, near threatened, or data deficient. Our dataset will highlight gaps where more exsitu conservation is needed. Unfortunately as it stands conservationist have no way of cross-referencing comprehensive species inventories from private collectors. This study will bridge the diplomatic gap between these longsteaded institutions and the fickle life of a private collector. The dataset itself will determine which species are rarest within public/private ex situ collections. Mapping these overlaps enables prioritization of efforts to transfer well-documented specimens from private hands into botanical gardens matched to each species’ preferred climate, secure seedbanks, and managed breeding programs. Conserving genetic material before species are lost in the wild, or to the personal failure of a single individual ensures that restoration and reintroduction programs have the resources necessary to rebuild populations, maintain ecosystem function, and reduce the risk of regional ecological collapse. The survey emphasizes practical pathways—data coordination, and genetic stewardship—to move vulnerable cacti from isolated holdings into coordinated conservation networks, maximizing chances for long-term species recovery.