[MPWG] White list & invasive plants issues...
Roy Upton
herbal at got.net
Mon Oct 25 20:39:09 CDT 2010
I think it is important to understand that for regulatory purposes an
invasive is any non-native that interferes with something of economic
value to state or federal regulators. Those exotics that have not
caused any type of economically significant detriment are left to
multiply, morph, mix with natives, and do whatever they are going to
do. Of course, biologists would get into academic arguments as to
what constitutes a native. However, where the rubber meets the road,
at least in my limited experience, are the regulations and laws that
are put into effect against "invasives", usually precipitated by
another country's prohibition against the species or an ability of
gain some advantage from a trade perspective.-Roy
>Yes, how do you define native? I would contend that the Panax
>quinquefolius germplasm wild harvested from the Ozarks and supplied
>to Bob as part of his Panax genetic collections represents
>non-native, alien genetic material when planted in as part of Bob's
>collections in upstate New York. This Ozark Panax germplasm did not
>evolve in upstate New York. Political boundaries are irrelevant.
>Similarly, well meaning folks have planted lots of Echinacea
>purpurea along highways in Northwest Arkansas. Hence, they have
>planted a native plant to be sure, however the germplasm originated
>from European horticulture. These plants, while, the same species,
>are quite different morphologically from the indigenous plant
>material in this County. I have argued that we should be using
>propagules from the ACTUAL native plant material. So back to the
>question what is a native plant? How does one legislate this?
>
>On the issue of Chinese medicinal plants, the fact is East Asia has
>been the source of horticultural introductions to the West for
>nearly 200 years. A vast majority of Chinese plants now grown for
>clinical specialty markets have been in Western horticulture for
>many decades. They are not new introductions. Many rock garden
>plants of Asian origin are vicariously Chinese medicinal plants. And
>it goes both ways. There are many European and N. American plants in
>Asia and Europe. Lycium chinense grows at the edge of my yard,
>not-planted, not tamed. Japanese honeysuckle clambers through the
>understory. Hedera helix is pulled with each weeding of the garden.
>Perilla frutescens grows where ever it pleases. They are here
>because they are opportunistic, just like the Sassafras and
>Juniperus virginiana. They are all here because when this little
>town of healing springs, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, was "discovered"
>in 1877, the opportunistic white people clear cut every living woody
>plant in this forest, turning it into muddy wasteland as quick as
>they could. It took less than a year for the population to go from
>zero to 5,000. If we look at the roots of this issue rather than the
>minutiae of species and where they originate, the problem begins
>with habitat and plant community destruction, exacerbated by factors
>like the movie, Bambi which created a couple of generations of
>Americans who think deer populations are warm fuzzy,
>eyelash-batting, cuddly creatures which should be "conserved and
>protected." Bring back the cougar and the wolf.
>
>How does anyone define what is native, what is alien and what
>political border can be crossed where and when? How does one
>regulate or legislate any of this?
>
>Best regards,
>Steven Foster
>Eureka Springs, Arkansas
>
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
>On Oct 25, 2010, at 12:50 PM, Robert Layton Beyfuss
><<mailto:rlb14 at cornell.edu>rlb14 at cornell.edu> wrote:
>
>>Hi Ed
>>There is really no good defintion of what a "native" plant is.
>>Native to where? Mexico or Texas?
>>Minnesota or Canada? Northern PA or southern PA? CA or NY? The
>>mountains of NC or the outer banks? This is a big country with lots
>>of different ecosystems that differ as radically from each other as
>>Asian ecosystems do from ours. Native since when? since the
>>glaciers moved stuff around? Since Native Americans moved plants
>>around? since Europeans brought plants with them here in the
>>1600's? Since temperatures warmed up a couple of degres? should we
>>be prohibited from growing exotic medicinal plants? The whole
>>native versus exotic argument is xenophobic BS. There are plenty of
>>exotic plants that don't need extra inputs to grow here just fine.
>>Requiring people to purchase only native plants is like requiring
>>us to buy only American made goods? Most of our foods are exotic.
>>Should we only eat local "native" food? The average working class
>>American cannot afford to shop at the local farmers market. They
>>have to shop at Wallmart with 85% Chinese made goods. Makes no
>>sense at all. Americans used to have freedom to choose what they
>>wanted, now Big Brother chooses for all of us.
>>Bob
>>
>>
>>
>>From:
>><mailto:mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org>mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
>>[<mailto:mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org>mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org]
>>On Behalf Of Edward Fletcher
>>[<mailto:efletcher at skybest.com>efletcher at skybest.com]
>>Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 12:01 PM
>>To:
>><mailto:mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org>mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org;
>><>michael.d.ward at aphis.usda.gov
>>Subject: [MPWG] White list & invasive plants issues...
>>
>>While I do understand the 'invasive plants' concern, reiterated
>>when I drive through the South and see kudzu climbing over 100'
>>pine trees and choking out acres of plants, I know the
>>horticultural/ornamental market is driving this demand. It has
>>always been the desire to have plants from 'exotic' places rather
>>than 'native' plants in one's landscape. Then even if not invasive,
>>there are inherent problems that come along with this, i.e., extra
>>water in dryer climates, pest issues, diseases, etc.
>>
>>So it seems to me a companion list to this 'white list' is a
>>'native plant list' that is allowed. Many counties and some states
>>only allow or require indigenous plant species to be planted.
>>Bravo, Bravo!!! This makes the most sense to me, then we can still
>>go to the botanical gardens to see exotic plants perhaps.
>>
>>Notes to remember: We have invasives that are native also. Many
>>hybrids of native species are available for diversity in the
>>landscape.
>>
>>Genuinely,
>>Edward J. Fletcher
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From:
>>"<mailto:mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org>mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org"
>><<mailto:mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org>mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org>
>>Sent: 10/24/2010 3:53 AM
>>To:
>>"<mailto:mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org>mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org"
>><<mailto:mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org>mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org>
>>Subject: [MPWG] Fwd:
>>
>>
>>
>>"WHITE LIST" OF AUTHORIZED PLANTS (Canada and U.S.)
>>
>>The U.S. and Canadian governments are planning to introduce a
>>"white list" of plants that are allowed entry into each country
>>under a joint Canada-USA greenhouse certification program. The
>>United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Canadian
>>Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) are requesting comments from
>>stakeholders on a proposal to replace the current list of
>>prohibited plants with this new list of allowed plants. What this
>>means is that if a plant is not on the allowed list it cannot enter
>>the U.S. from Canada or vice versa. Many thousands of plants
>>including many herbs will be barred entry under the proposal.
>>
>>This change is highly significant for both countries because it
>>appears to be a first attempt to implement a controversal "white
>>list" approach to the control of cross-border plant movement. The
>>proposed "white list" is far more restrictive than the current
>>"black list" of prohibited plants that has been in place since the
>>inception of the binational Greenhouse Certification Program in
>>1996. The proposed "white list" of allowed plants includes less
>>than 1000 plant genera, out of over 12,600 genera of flowering
>>plants known to man. The current "black list" of prohibited plants
>>has fewer than 100 genera.
>>
>>Some suggest that the powerful anti-invasives movement in the U.S.
>>is behind the push to introduce "white lists" of plants that are
>>allowed into the country. While invasives are a problem for both
>>countries, the new list will affect thousands of plants already in
>>the horticultural trade, and will limit the introduction of new
>>plants to gardeners.
>>
>>For gardeners, it is worth reflecting a moment on how many new
>>plants that you have enjoyed growing over the past 10-20 years, and
>>how many of them might not have been available to you had this
>>"white list" been in place.
>>
>>Gardeners, herbalists, commercial growers, and the gardening and
>>herbal media are encouraged to submit comments.
>>
>>The deadline for comments is October 31, 2010.
>>
>>United States: Email your comments to Michael D. Ward, Senior
>>Accreditation Projects Manager, USDA-APHIS-PPQ
>>(<>michael.d.ward at aphis.usda.gov)
>>
>>Canada: Email your comments to the CFIA (<>horticulture at inspection.gc.ca)
>>
>>The relevant documents, including the proposed lists of authorized
>>genera and families, are available
>><http://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?page=Issues/documents.html>
>>here.
>>
>>--
>>\_\ RICHTERS HERBS
>>/ / Goodwood, ON, L0C 1A0, Canada
>>\_\ Tel +1.905.640.6677 Fax +1.905.640.6641
>>/_/ <>http://www.richters.com
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group mailing list
>><mailto:MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org>MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
>><http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org>http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org
>>
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>>
>>Disclaimer
>>Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments
>>etc. reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the
>>message. The information contained in posts is not intended nor
>>implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative
>>to your specific medical condition or question. All medical and
>>other healthcare information that is discussed on this list should
>>be carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their qualified
>>healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official opinions
>>or positions of the Plant Conservation
>>Alliance.
>>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
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>
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>
>Disclaimer
>Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc.
>reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message.
>The information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be
>a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your
>specific medical condition or question. All medical and other
>healthcare information that is discussed on this list should be
>carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their qualified
>healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official opinions
>or positions of the Plant Conservation Alliance.
--
Roy Upton RH, DAyu
Executive Director, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia
Shipping address
3051 Brown's Lane
Soquel, CA 95073 US
TEL: 1-831-461-6317
FAX: 1-831-475-6219
website: www.herbal-ahp.org
e.mail: herbal at got.net
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