> Over the past several years I have been witness to an ever present
> doom lurking over carnivorous plants here in Georgia. I have seen
> large colonies of S. flava be bulldozed to make a little sterile pond.
> This was in downtown Statesboro, GA. I have seen a nice strong colony
> of S. rubra growing along a ditch be cut, sprayed with herbacide, and
> now the most dangerous threat, digging up for collection. This colony
> was surviving even with all the things it had going against it. The
> scary thing is after warning both the DNR and The Nature Conservancy I
> have seen no measures to try and protect these plants here in GA.
> Only S. oreophila seems to be the primary reason for concern, with
> justification, but do not these other species warrant protection also.
> I mean, would it not be easier to protect them now instead of waiting
> until there is only one colony left before extreme measures are taken.
I sympathize completely with you. Would you like to do something to help?
I'll give you whatever support I can as president of the ICPS (assuming
I'm re-elected, that is - :-) ).
This next year, my highest priority is to incorporate the ICPS as a
501-C3 non-profit organization. We will be modifying our by-laws soon
to accomplish this. I would like to set up the ICPS structure so that
we can buy and steward patches of habitat in the fashion of Nature
Conservancy. Non-profit status will allow us to accept tax-deductible
contributions, and to apply for government and corporate sponsorship. I
believe that this is necessary.
I also believe that this is only a stopgap measure. We also need to do
what we can to allow the larger public to empathize with the habitats,
the plants, and the animals that live in these habitats.
> We growers, scientists, and conservationist need to write our
> representatives, the DNR, and Conservation societies to urge them to
> protect what is left. If we do not, we may find ourselves looking at
> the California Condor of weedom.
The government has no real power to make lasting change. It only acts
as an agent of the people. People like you and me are the only way that
these plants will be saved - not a conservation bill in congress.
You could work *really hard* to get a bill passed, but without wide
support of the people, it would simply be opposed and eliminated, in
short-order by other special-interest groups.
I think that the only real solution is a change in viewpoint. Long-term
success will be achieved only by cooperative, educational means rather
than by legislative, combative processes.
CP are a perfect foil for teaching young kids about these issues. Since
CP appear to sit on the dividing line between "inanimate" plants and
animals, they automatically fascinate young children. The ICPS can do
much more in this area than we are doing at the present. A young CP
collector is a future supporter of habitat conservation and restoration.
Please keep the ideas coming - and especially - volunteer to do something.
The ICPS is *entirely* run by *volunteers*. We can *only* do what our
members choose to do. There is no "big power structure" that needs to
"get cracking", just a bunch of concerned members who have chosen to
affiliate around a common interest.
Once again, I will do whatever I can to help you accomplish your vision
of conservation. I really appreciate your energy and concern for the
plants. Let's keep the dialogue going!
Best regards,
-- Rick Walker