Re: Tropical forest dreams and nightmares

I work at a botanical garden and I am not under the false impression that
any botanical garden anywhere ever housed enough of a species that it could
be considered saved. With out some genetic diversity within a species it is
doomed. That can only really happen in a natural habitat. Even the species
our Garden works on saving are meant to be returned to the wild. Saving a
habitat is the real hope.

Craig Allen
Fairchild Tropical Garden

----- Original Message -----
From: <Cgdz33a@aol.com>
To: "Multiple recipients of list AROID-L" <aroid-l@mobot.org>
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 7:52 PM
Subject: Re: Tropical forest dreams and nightmares


> While "saving" individual plants from destruction it does have a very
serious
> impact in some circumstances. There have been instances on Long Island
where
> developments have gone forward on sites with rare organisms (in this case
> salamanders) because of wonderful scientists ability to collect and "save"
> them. There are surely better examples than this on but it is an issue.
> Congressman Don Young of Alaska (R), tried in 1997, 1998, and 2000, to
amend
> the Endangered Species act to essentially allow  destruction of areas
> protected by the act if these rare plants and animals could be kept in
> botanic gardens and zoos. As absurd as that sounds, it will become a more
> common belief worldwide, and the public just might buy it!
>
> Eric C Morgan
> Clark Botanic Garden
>
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