Re: Is Extinction better than Captive Propagation?
Demetrio Lamzaki (Dee_Lamzaki@msn.com)
Tue, 31 Dec 96 01:53:51 UT
>>>The raison d'etre for the genetic diversity debate has been
>>>basically that one side maintains that captive propagation
>>>(of plants or animals) is the only sure-fire way to prevent
>>>extinction,
>>
>>Unless something miraculous occurs in the soul of every
>>living human that prevents them from ever taking any
>>action again that might lead to the extinction of a species in
>>the wild then the answer is yes, the only absolute way
>>to guarantee a threatened species doesn't become extinct is
>>to have captive populations of it. Utopia on Earth does not
>>presently exist unfortunately. This fact doesn't conflict with
>>my support of the preservation of natural biodiversity. The
>>two tactics complement each other, they are not exclusive
>>paths that one must decide between as they've been
>>depicted by some here.
>Captive propagation (ex-situ cultivation and propagion) is a tool used
>by some conservation programs, such as the Center for Plant
>Conservation (CPC) program centered at the Missouri Botanical
>Garden and 25 participating botanical gardens located across the USA.
>The Atlanta Botanical Garden is one of these participating gardens.
>Each garden deals with conservation of a select number of plants from
>their local phytogeographic region. The Atlanta Botanical Garden
>therefore deals with several CP species. I have worked in association
>with the CPC program at the Desert Botanical Garden, and have had
>a chance to observe their techniques and priorities of ex-situ conservation.
That's great Michael, I'm glad we agree, I guess that makes you another
person on our "one side".
Regards,
Demetrios