Re: Plant Smuggling
CMDodd@aol.com
Thu, 13 Apr 1995 21:47:10 -0400
While understanding that laws have been broken and certainly not condoning
the actions of the over-zealous collectors, I find it ironic that in my
State, a man involved in the murder of a British Tourist was given 50 hours
of community service. Contrast this with a possible two year jail term for
smuggling plants that are being wiped out by massive habitat destruction
(fires, logging, development).
I believe that it is the hope of all interested in conservation that a revue
of the laws concerning collection and importation would make it easier to
legally get rare species into cultivation before they are gone. Over
collecting, legal or otherwise, does take its toll but the destruction of
habitat and the ensuing extinction of life would seem to be a more noteworthy
crime.
Cliff