[MPWG] ARTICLE: Poachers Looting National Parks of Treasures

[Olivia Kwong]

To everyone that reads this list,

I post links & summaries to articles I spot pertaining to medicinal plants
in major news outlets because it seems prudent to know what the general
public is being "fed" by the way of information on medicinals.  That is
not to say that I consider these articles to be absolutely factual or
agree with their particular contents.

Knowing what people are reading about medicinals is a very important part
of medicinal plant conservation because our public outreach efforts need
to reach these folks and it needs to be done with correct information.  I
suggest to anyone that finds these articles incorrect in facts or has
other concerns to not only post to this list in response (which is
generally filled with like-minded people), but to actually contact the
newspapers/media and/or the reporter that produced the piece with your
concerns.  You should probably even contact the agencies doing whatever it
is you disagree with as well with your criticisms and suggestions.

I'm just the messenger when I post these links.  My point is that in order
to effectively conserve plants, we need to reach the general public.  If
we don't do it, then the media is going to continue to churn out articles
"educating" the public without showing them the complete picture.

Olivia
CPC/PCA
http://www.nps.gov/plants/

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Olivia Kwong" <plant at plantconservation.org>
> To: <mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org>
> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 12:29 PM
> Subject: [MPWG] ARTICLE: Poachers Looting National Parks of Treasures
>
>
> > For the full article:
> > http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/23/AR2005102300796.html
> >
> > By Juliet Eilperin
> > Washington Post Staff Writer
> > Monday, October 24, 2005; Page A08
> >
> > SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, Va. -- A self-described "old-timer," Skip
> > Wissinger has spent 32 years traversing the park's 300 square miles and
> > identifying its natural treasures. But now many of the park's most prized
> > resources -- its American ginseng plants, black bears and unusual
> > butterflies -- are disappearing.