Thinking back about all the recent conservation oriented posts, I think that
everyone would agree the situation is not perfect and it is complicated by
different organizations with different agendas and varying interpretations of
the existing laws.
I do not claim to be the originator of these ideas, but they seem to make good
basic sense to me.
1) Learn to grow your CP as well as possible. Don't proceed to the more
difficult species until you can first grow and propagate the plants you have.
Its hard I know (really!!!), but admit it, a well grown _D. capensis_ is a lot
more attractive than a pitcherless _N. rajah_.
2) Propagate, propagate, propagate!!! Rather than expand the number of
species you have, expand the number of plants you grow.
3) Disseminate, disseminate, disseminate!!! Give the extra plants away
or sell them at cost. I'm sure we all know people (young especially)
who would love to get a plant. And people usually show more concern for
things they can personally relate to.
4) Educate people on how to grow them! My guess is 95% of commercial
CP's and plants in general die prematurely.
All of the above can be done by ANYONE, regardless of whether you grow
in a window, a terrarium, greenhouse, or outside. Let's make
"Propagation and Dissemination!" a battle cry or at least a mantra for
CP growers and a possible way for us to help turn the conservation laws
towards the more difficult problems of habitat loss.
And remember, changing attitudes is like steering a supertanker, it takes a
long time to change course, one mistake can wreck the whole ship, and the
consequences sure don't help the environment.
Take care!
Jeff
who's feeling particularly idealistic today!