Ya'll may know of me as the local booster for the Nature Conservancy---I've
pontificated on its value enough times. In this issue (November/December 1993)
of _Nature Conservancy_ (Vol43, No. 6) is an article called "Busting
Plant Poachers." It's an 8 page discussion of illegal plant collecting,
focusing on the removal of VFTs from North Carolina, both state and
Nature Conservancy land.
Some highlights and quotes:
1987: Thieves stole an entire population of 8000 coneflowers (possibly
_Echinacea purpurea_?--B) from a Missouri state park in one night
The last of the showy ladyslippers has disappeared from Acadia National
Park, presumably collected.
A few stories are given of professional botanists overcollecting for herbaria
and botanical gardens.
Estimates put the trade in VFTs out of N.Carolina at 1,000,000 plants
per year (and that's overseas exports alone) in 1991.
There's a description of various wildlife officers---a tough mean bunch
of hombres.
The fine for collecting is $500.
Finally there is a description of Ron Gagliardo's operation! Complete
with photo of Ron holding a flat of VFTs, behind him is a hoophouse
interior filled with orchids, CPs, etc.
One of the few remaining areas in the Green Swamp of N.C. is Holly
Shelter, owned (and patrolled!) by TNC. It is 15,000 acres with
"pine savannas, shrubby bogs, cypress swamps, and an extraordinary
20 species of carnivorous plants." I've been to the Green Swamp, but
not the Holly Shelter holding, and can attest that while it
is almost all logging operation, there are some stunningly
wonderful CP areas if you can find them.
B