Thanks for the update on the technical requirements for mirroring your
site. I am not familiar with some of these terms since I mainly work
with Macintosh, but I will be working with some people here who should
be able to help with this once our network gets going.
I am planning on scripting an automatic html page creating system where
someone could simply email any of various forms to a specified email
address and these would automatically be converted into attractive and
standardized web pages.
I imagine features such as the following could be included in the forms:
scientific name:
common name:
cultivation:
habitat:
sources of propagated material:
references:
Photos:
etc.
Someone could simply fill out an email form with the appropriate
information. They could attach gif or jpeg images to the email, and a
script on our computer would automatically create (or update) a web page
on our server linked through an intelligent graphic interface through a
fast and clean multi-level menu architecture.
Another form could be used for people to submit errors or corrections.
This would essentially be a huge database that would be continuously and
automatically updated by CP'ers on the net. People could create entries
for new species or add additional information to existing entries?
I am curious what others think of this idea? Does something similar for
submitting CP information already exist?
I have no commercial intentions for the CP site, but if it becomes
popular enough, we could potentially sell advertising on the site with
all proceeds going to an organization such as the Nature Conservancy
which buys up and preserves endangered wetlands. My main goal of my
involvement is to do anything and everyting possible to educate people
and try to stop the destruction of the natural habitats of CP.
It is just heartbreaking when I see sites such as last winter I visited
one of the last stands of S. oreophila in Northern Georgia, watching
bulldozers less than 500 feet away clearing trees from a housing
development that would most likely destroy the water table of the
habitat and lead to the eventual demise of this stand.
I also hear of lowland Heliamphora sites in Venezuela that are being
poached or destroyed by development. I am sure others on this list
could share dozens of such horror stories. I'd encourage others to
share this information, for such stories, I believe, will help encourage
more people to take action to stop the destruction of natural sites.
I'd encourage any CPers who have the means to either donate to the
Nature Conservancy (and specify that the donations go specifically to
the purchase of wetlands containing CP) or perhaps purchase or donate
land yourself. Any land that is purchased containing CP can be
tax-deductible if a conservation easement is given to an organization
such as the Nature Conservancy. In such cases, one gets to deduct a
large portion of the cost of land purchase as a charitable donation, but
keeps the land owned in their own name.
Those interested in helping the North Carolina Nature Conservancy (a
group VERY devoted the protection of CP) should contact: Katherine
Skinner, Executive Director (919) 403-8558 or fax (919) 403-0379 Mail:
Katherine Skinner, Nature Conservancy, 4011 University Dr., Suite 201,
Durham, NC 27707
Best wishes,
jeff