Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 10:15:44 +0300 (IDT) From: dmjoel@netvision.net.il (Daniel M. Joel) To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3674$foo@default> Subject: Production of new CP varieties and conservation
I would support the concept put forward by Jeff, that production of new CP
varieties is important for conservation.
I agree with much of what Rand is saying about the richness of natural
habitats with forms and biotypes and species and mutants. These should of
course remain rich, preserved as such, and continue to serve as a genetic
source for the plants we cultivate.
It would be great if we could preserve nature based on understanding and
education... Nevertheless one must not ignore two important facts:
(1) CP are also collected by people who do not care about nature
conservation, very often as the result of our demand for plants.
(2) Plant cultivation is possible and often highly profitable. Throughout
the human history plants have successfully been domesticated in spite of
the difficulties you mention (and others). Domesticated wheat and corn and
rice and legumes are perhaps the most important achievements, but look into
flower shops and gardens: how many of the cultivated plants one finds
around us. Are they to be found in nature? The ancestors of some cultivated
plants (like wheat, and rose, and tulip) can still be found in nature, not
far away from my home, but only botanists are interested in them because
they are difficult to grow and/or of minor commercial or aesthetic value.
Sometimes they are also collected by scientist for research or as sources
of some genetic characters (like resistances to pest and disease).
To my opinion we need to strictly protect the remaining natural CP habitats
from unwanted collectors not only by law or regulations and by education,
but also by developing more attractive plants for the market that will make
the collected material inferior in the eyes of the customers. It is not
simple, selection and breeding and genetic engineering often fail, but what
we see on the market is already a proof of this concept.
With best regards,
Danny Joel
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Jan 02 2001 - 17:31:10 PST