[MPWG] ginseng in the news

[Colin Donohue]

I agree that funding for plant conservation is critical, and support 
advocacy for it. I agree with the elements in the petition (at least 
from quick scan).

I just think it's a disservice to share inaccurate information.

Some preface would be responsible (EG the issues around ginseng 
conservation are complex. Ginseng will still be in the US forests in 10 
or 20 years, but there are concerns about its long term survival, yada 
yada yada).

It's great to get the coverage, and Susan came across well, and 
on-point.  I don't know who let Eidus in front of the camera.   A lesson 
to us all in "message control" lol.

Sharing the clip with its proclamation about ginseng's imminent 
extinction is not OK, IMO.  It undermines the credibility of the whole 
undertaking.

It also casts harvesters as the mortal enemy.  We must protect all the 
woods from these evil folks (whereas those "boots on the ground" are 
likely the biggest potential steward for ginseng if engaged properly.

Sure, lock the thieves up, but most harvesters I know are not thieves. 
Many actually husband the local genetic pool by taking plants off public 
land to "protect" them, and dispersing seeds from their private gardens.

Anywho, enough said. I think we agree that thieves are bad and agencies 
need to help catch them.  Ginseng will not be extinct in 10-20 years, 
Susan did a great job stumping for UPS and plant conservation funding 
generally (especially in light of NFWF cuts), and what you propose in 
petition is generally good stuff!

Just don't spread the rumor that ginseng will be extirpated in 10 years ;-)

C


On 9/5/2013 7:45 PM, Michael McGuffin wrote:
>
> Hello Colin
>
> I could not agree with you more that the information presented by 
> Robert Eidus was unfortunate, at best. But Susan Leopold was exactly 
> correct in calling attention to the very limited resources that are 
> applied to plant conservation. This was an important message, and an 
> appropriate message from United Plant Savers.
>
> Michael
>
> *Michael McGuffin*
>
> President
>
> American Herbal Products Association |www.ahpa.org <http://www.ahpa.org/>
>
> 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 918 | Silver Spring | MD | 20910
>
> *MD Phone: *301.588.1171 x201
>
> *CA Phone: *310.745.8401
>
> *30+ years of working for you! ***
>
> AHPA_logo_vctor_300*//*
>
> *From:*MPWG [mailto:mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] *On 
> Behalf Of *Colin Donohue
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 05, 2013 3:02 PM
> *To:* Susan Leopold
> *Cc:* mpwg
> *Subject:* Re: [MPWG] ginseng in the news
>
> This is great, other than being wrong.
>
> I'm amused to see Robert Eidus as the spokesperson for the 
> survivability of Ginseng. It will be gone in 10-20 years?   That's 
> idiotic.
>
> I'm sure Mr. Eidus didn't mean what he was cast as saying on the clip, 
> but it's still incorrect information.
>
>
> I'm very disappointed to see UPS trumpeting this incorrect and 
> sensationalized clip.
>
> Yes, there are issues with ginseng harvest, and I'd be the first to 
> shout from the mountaintop that poaching is a real issue that needs 
> attention, and that more resources should go into plant conservation. 
> But putting incorrect information out to spur public concern is 
> disingenuous.
>
> Colin
>
> On 9/5/2013 5:15 PM, Susan Leopold wrote:
>
>     United Plant Savers has started a change.org <http://change.org>
>     letter to bring awareness to our members and the public and to
>     show various agencies that the public cares and supports ginseng
>     conservation efforts....
>
>     Below is a link to the CBS story and to our change.org
>     <http://change.org> letter, also you can go to the UpS website
>     www.unitedplantsavers.org <http://www.unitedplantsavers.org> for
>     links to several recent news articles and ginseng recently
>     published research.
>
>     Please join this campaign: http://chn.ge/15Eon5H
>
>     http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505269_162-57601454/ginseng-poaching-threatens-survival-of-plant-species/
>
>     Susan Leopold, PhD
>
>     Executive Director, UpS
>
>     703-667-0208
>
>     susan at unitedplantsavers.org <mailto:susan at unitedplantsavers.org>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>       
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