Ecolog:
This is one helluva dilemma. On the one hand, I would like to know the
status of rare plants (and animals), but so would developers--so they can
destroy them (by "preparing the land for agriculture, hence exempt from CEQA
requirements for their protection," for example) so that when environmental
studies are done, none can be found. I have known of developers hiring
botanists to "survey" their land for the purpose of locating rare species
populations so they can eliminate them in advance of submitting development
proposals. Unfortunately, there are some botanists who will do this kind of
work. How do we know for certain that developers are not encouraging this
kind of work for the wrong purposes?
I don't have a solution, but I would like to know how this dilemma would
best be handled. In my experience, "gaming the system" seems to have been
rather common.
WT
PS: It's interesting that this is being called a "treasure hunt." I have
heard taxonomists, botanists, birders and the like referred to as "stamp
collectors," "narcissistic nerds," and other uncomplimentary terms. While I
do not share this attitude, I do understand how it might come about in the
case of some individuals I have encountered. It would certainly be unfair to
classify an entire group or discipline because of the actions of a few, but
is such derision justified at all?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel Slakey" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 4:33 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Volunteer Opportunity: California Rare Plant Treasure
Hunt
Despite our best efforts, the current status of many populations of
California's rarest plants is not well-known. Furthermore, thousands of
California rare plant occurrences have not been documented for decades.
Up-to-date information on rare plant occurrences and their associated
habitats are vitally needed to inform conservation actions and to aid
planning efforts across the state.
As a result, the Rare Plant Treasure Hunt has been started to search for
these rare plants and update data about them and their associated habitats.
This project is almost entirely a volunteer effort and we need your help to
accomplish our important goals! Right now field trips teaming botanists with
enthusiasts are being planned to survey for high priority rare plants in
areas with no recent botanical exploration. CNPS coordinators will provide
participants with survey forms to record rare plant data, locations and maps
of targeted rare plants and other materials to aid in surveying. This is a
great opportunity for college botany and plant ecology students and
graduates to apply their recently-learned skills to the conservation of
California's diverse flora. Land managers who are interested in having our
volunteers search for rare plants on their lands are also invited to get
involved.
To participate in a trip, get materials and support to lead your own trip,
or find volunteers in your area, please contact one of our coordinators. We
are also interested in finding more land managers who need surveys conducted
on their lands. Amber Swanson, [email protected] will be leading efforts
for the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts and Danny Slakey, [email protected] will
be leading efforts in the rest of the state. There has never been a better
time to search for, study, appreciate and update the vital information
needed to conserve California's rare plants!
We have several upcoming trips planned out for the 2011 field season,
including trips in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, as well as a few Northern
California trips: in the Bay Area, Mendocino National Forest, and at Walker
Ridge, in Lake County.
For more information on this project and survey forms, please visit:
http://cnps.org/cnps/rareplants/treasurehunt/
or check out our Facebook page, which includes several trip listings:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rare-Plant-Treasure-Hunt-of-the-California-Native-Plant-Society/101385786569412
-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1435/3511 - Release Date: 03/16/11
Internal Virus Database is out of date.
