Endangered Plant Sites

Jeff Gold (jeffgold@musictown.com)
Sat, 06 Apr 1996 01:49:14 +0000

Hello all,

I hope we can get an active discussion going on how to protect the
natural habitats of CP. How many people are on this list anyway?
Perhaps if we find out of a site in danger, we could post the fax
number, phone number, email address, mailing address, etc. of the
company or individual who is endangering the environment. Perhaps a few
hundred faxes would help someone see the light. (I've used the
technique a few times in other circumstances with *tremendous* success.)

> The trade of
> wild collected specimens of this (and other) species is illegal,
> but building houses on their habitat is legal!!! Where is the
> logic.??

Both should be illegal. I feel wild collection should be permitted in
limited cases if done by a trained botanist. (I think this is already
the case with appropriate permits...perhaps someone could elaborate...).
A trained botanist can collect a limited number of seeds or vegetative
cuttings to be propagated in tissue culture without having any ill
effect on a natural population.

> We will have difficulties stopping such destruction. Having been an
> ecologist and taxonomist for many years and having visited all kinds
> of plant sites for over 20 years now, I am certain that Homo sapiens
> (I prefer to refer to that species in my university lectures as 'Homo
> stupidum') will never stop destroying its habitat and thus the
> habitat of plants and animals. But at least, the plants of sites that
> are to be destroyed should be salvaged. But that is forbidden by some
> stupid regulations such as CITES.

I think that a law permitting the salvaging of such plants could very
likely encourage some ruthless collectors to move in to collect in areas
where they really should not. I'd prefer better education for our
population to appreciate and understand the natural world around them.
Then people would feel a moral obligation to protect the species in
their backyards. And then there would be no need to salvage anything,
because people would protect these areas. It may look like a pretty
bleak picture out there, but I feel only optimism and hard work will
help the situation. And I believe it will.

If someone is destroying a habitat - print flyers - talk to neighbors -
contact the press - form a group of people to camp out in the endangered
area. I feel these are a better way to stop the destruction. See if
alternatives can be found to satisfy both the developers and those
seeking to preserve an area.

> That has been tried before and may work in some areas. It does most
> definately not work in areas where prices are being offered for land
> that no 'normal' person can pay (Japan, Certain Other parts of
> Asia, Europe). And with the population growing as it is that will be
> so in the entire world within the next 50 years. If prices for a
> simple agricultural field go up to US $ 2000 per square meter, who
> the H.. is going to raise those funds other than construction
> companies that have a lobby and does can override certain
> 'conservation' laws. And the US is a very good example of that.

I agree that it is not a nice picture, BUT there are *A LOT* of people
with *A LOT* of money out there. If we can help educate these people,
perhaps they will help the plight of the world's endangered wetlands.
If wealthy individuals start raising their own carnivorous plants,
perhaps they'd see their value - and then want to spend money protecting
their habitats. I know of at least a few people who have done this.

Best wishes,

"Optimistic" Jeff