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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>In response to Dr. Leaman’s post regarding Contribution of biotechnology
to in situ conservation, I would suggest that we begin a discussion of this
topic and get many opinions rather than a single view as I would perceive
it.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The following answers are only my perceptions and should not be construed
as </FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>definitive solutions.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>1. What is the cause of the current decline or vulnerability of these
species, if not harvest pressure? Might the re-introduced individuals and
enriched populations be threatened by these circumstances also?</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>There are many factors which can have a direct effect on the
vulnerability of a species. </FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Probably
the most profound effect would be from “modernization”. The impact of loss of
land due to the expansion of towns and cities accounts for the greatest losses
of species. We are continually replacing green space with concrete and buildings
with no attempt to identify or relocate critical species or those with economic
value .Therefore species occupying these cleared areas meet their demise. This
continual expansion eventually could impact the climate of the area, making it
difficult for some species to adapt to these changes and thus perish.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The next factor would be from poachers or those who go out into the wild
population and </FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>remove these
species from wilderness areas to be sold to collectors or for sale to the
general public as ornamentals. The problem here is that these plants are
distributed into varied climates which may or may not be conducive to the plants
survival and as a result many are lost. These losses then lead to more poaching
for replacement purposes, thereby </FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>slowly depleting the wild supply.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>As to whether these re-introductions could face the same situations or
circumstances and face the same fate, most probably so. A possible solution as I
perceive it is to establish a protected area or reserve for these species which
is as close to their native habitat as possible. Without this proactive step,
despite the quantities possible we could reproduce </FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>utilizing biotechnology, enormous continued
efforts would at best maintain the status quo.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Since many of these species are located within the confines of third
world countries and </FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>the local
populations utilize them for food and medicines and most probably as a source of
a small income, why not establish a program which would get them
involved.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Such a program might be found in this scenario. Botanical gardens would
send members of their staff to these countries as consultants and teachers to
train the locals in modern horticultural techniques and help them to set up
sanctuaries or reserves. Universities would then be given grants to provide
their students with scholarships or stipends for spending their summer months
working under the direction of these consultants, thereby gaining practical
experience, and helping the locals care for their fields and the
reserves.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The locals would then<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>send
either seed or seedlings to the botanical gardens for </FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>conservation, and the same to biotechnology firms
for propagation. The biotechnology firms would then send stage II or III
seedlings back to the locals to increase the populations in the reserves and to
go into the locals fields. The locals then, under the direction of the botanical
consultants, could form cooperatives to sell their goods on the open market.
With the profits obtained from sales on the open market, a small amount would be
sent to the botanical gardens as reimbursement for their services, and the
same </FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>amount sent to the
biotechnology firms for their services. The majority of the profit from sales
would be retained by the locals and their cooperatives to improve their standard
of living. As this scenario is repeated, the population of these plant
species in the reserves grows, the fields are repopulated now from
seedlings provided by the biotech companies </FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>instead of from wild populations ensuring a continued and growing supply,
and the pride and standard of living for people in these third world nations
attains new highs. Most important however, is the fact that now there is a
proactive team approach with a spirit of </FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>cooperation between factions and a<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>true trend towards reversal of<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> threatened species. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In response to Dr. Leaman’s post
regarding Contribution of biotechnology to in situ conservation, I would suggest
that we begin a discussion of this topic and get many opinions rather than a
single view as I would perceive it.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The following answers are only my
perceptions and should not be construed as</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">definitive solutions.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">1. What is the cause of the
current decline or vulnerability of these species, if not harvest pressure?
Might the re-introduced individuals and enriched populations be threatened by
these circumstances also?</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">There are many factors which can
have a direct effect on the vulnerability of a species.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Probably the most profound effect
would be from “modernization”. The impact of loss of land due to the expansion
of towns and cities accounts for the greatest losses of species. We are
continually replacing green space with concrete and buildings with no attempt to
identify or relocate critical species or those with economic value .Therefore
species occupying these cleared areas meet their demise. This continual
expansion eventually could impact the climate of the area, making it difficult
for some species to adapt to these changes and thus perish.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The next factor would be from
poachers or those who go out into the wild population and </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">remove these species from
wilderness areas to be sold to collectors or for sale to the general public as
ornamentals. The problem here is that these plants are distributed into varied
climates which may or may not be conducive to the plants survival and as a
result many are lost. These losses then lead to more poaching for replacement
purposes, thereby</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">slowly depleting the wild
supply.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">As to whether these
re-introductions could face the same situations or circumstances and face the
same fate, most probably so. A possible solution as I perceive it is to
establish a protected area or reserve for these species which is as close to
their native habitat as possible. Without this proactive step, despite the
quantities possible we could reproduce</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">utilizing biotechnology, enormous
continued efforts would at best maintain the status quo.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Since many of these species are
located within the confines of third world countries and </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">the local populations utilize
them for food and medicines and most probably as a source of a small income, why
not establish a program which would get them involved.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Such a program might be found in
this scenario. Botanical gardens would send members of their staff to these
countries as consultants and teachers to train the locals in modern
horticultural techniques and help them to set up sanctuaries or reserves.
Universities would then be given grants to provide their students with
scholarships or stipends for spending their summer months working under the
direction of these consultants, thereby gaining practical experience, and
helping the locals care for their fields and the reserves.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The locals would then<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>send either seed or seedlings to the
botanical gardens for </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">conservation, and the same to
biotechnology firms for propagation. The biotechnology firms would then send
stage II or III seedlings back to the locals to increase the populations in the
reserves and to go into the locals fields. The locals then, under the direction
of the botanical consultants, could form cooperatives to sell their goods on the
open market. With the profits obtained from sales on the open market, a small
amount would be sent to the botanical gardens as reimbursement for their
services, and the same </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">amount sent to the biotechnology
firms for their services. The majority of the profit from sales would be
retained by the locals and their cooperatives to improve their standard of
living. As this scenario is repeated, the population of these plant species in
the reserves grows, the fields are repopulated now from seedlings provided by
the biotech companies</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">instead of from wild populations
ensuring a continued and growing supply, and the pride and standard of living
for people in these third world nations attains new highs. Most important
however, is the fact that now there is a proactive team approach with a spirit
of </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">cooperation between factions and
a<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>true trend towards reversal
of<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>threatened species.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I will now throw these comments
out for further discussion amongst other members and their remarks pro or con.
In the mean time I will address the next question on Dr. Leaman’s, post.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">Regards,<BR>J.N.Covanes<BR>Director of
Research<BR>Botresearch USA<BR>23410 Harpergate<BR>Spring, Texas
77373<BR>USA<BR>fax: (281)355-1857<BR><A
href="http://www.botresearch.com">www.botresearch.com</A></SPAN>threatened
species.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>I will now throw these comments out for further discussion amongst other
members</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>and their remarks pro or con. In the mean time I will address the next
question on Dr. Leaman’s, post.</FONT></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>