<html><div style='background-color:'><P>Hi Folks, <BR>In response to the email about Dentali Technologies large scale berry picking in Alaska, I sent an email to the company asking them about the sustainability of this harvesting proposal. I am forwarding their response below in case you are interested. <BR>Thanks,<BR>Amy<BR><BR><BR>Amy Brush <BR>Clinical Herbalist, Intern<BR>Tai Sophia Institute<BR>Laurel, MD 20723<BR><BR><BR></P>
<P><BR><BR>Dear Amy,<BR><BR><BR>Thank you for your message. Your concerns are quite common, but not<BR>necessarily legitimate.<BR><BR><BR>If you refer to Alaska Geographic (1996), you will see that they cite some<BR>877 million pounds of blueberries growing annually without cultivation on<BR>the Seward Peninsula alone. They also say that in each of the major regions<BR>of Alaska where blueberry family species grow, namely Southeast,<BR>Southcentral, Southwest, Kodiak and Aleutians, and Interior, there is no<BR>reason to believe any less berry biomass is available; therefore, over 5<BR>billion pounds each year. Based on Alaska’s population, this means<BR>approximately 4 tons annually per resident. Other experts admit that 99.9%<BR>of this bounty just falls to the ground each year, with no benefits to<BR>humans, animals, birds, etc. Since fruit/seed is not the principal means
of<BR>natural propagation of these species, that figure translates to substantial<BR>waste.<BR><BR><BR>I wonder if you have ever witnessed the copious quantities of wild berries<BR>in Alaska. Have you actually had boots on the ground where they grow? If<BR>so, you may see this matter in a totally different light. By the way, do<BR>you eat anything from the sea, especially from Alaska, and believe it to be<BR>sustainable?<BR><BR><BR>Sincerely,<BR><BR>Maureen A. McKenzie, Ph.D.<BR><BR>DENALI BioTechnologies, L.L.C.<BR><BR>35555 Spur Highway<BR><BR>PMB 321<BR><BR>Soldotna, Alaska 99669<BR><BR>Toll Free: 877-336-2540<BR><BR><A href="http://www.denali-biotechnologies.com">www.denali-biotechnologies.com</A><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>From: Scott Haines [<A
href="http://by102fd.bay102.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?mailto=1&msg=E34785EC-BC6B-4E1E-97D9-8789FFF0F696&start=0&len=9335&src=&type=x&to=info@denali-biotechnologies.com&cc=&bcc=&subject=&body=&curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=fb81feda83756e8fc022d859e7e41389"><FONT color=#000099>mailto:info@denali-biotechnologies.com</FONT></A>]<BR>Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 6:24 AM<BR>To: <A href="http://by102fd.bay102.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=fb81feda83756e8fc022d859e7e41389&mailto=1&to=maureen@denali-biotechnologies.com&msg=E34785EC-BC6B-4E1E-97D9-8789FFF0F696&start=0&len=9335&src=&type=x"><FONT color=#000099>maureen@denali-biotechnologies.com</FONT></A><BR>Subject: RE: Aurora Blue<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Please respond to this
inquiry.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Gordon S. “Scott” Haines<BR><BR>DENALI BioTechnologies, L.L.C.<BR><BR>35555 Spur Highway<BR><BR>PMB 321<BR><BR>Soldotna, Alaska 99669<BR><BR>Toll-free: 877-336-2540<BR><BR><BR>www.denali-biotechnologies.com<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>From: Amy Brush [<A href="http://by102fd.bay102.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?mailto=1&msg=E34785EC-BC6B-4E1E-97D9-8789FFF0F696&start=0&len=9335&src=&type=x&to=abrush@hotmail.com&cc=&bcc=&subject=&body=&curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=fb81feda83756e8fc022d859e7e41389"><FONT color=#000099>mailto:abrush@hotmail.com</FONT></A>]<BR>Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 4:59 AM<BR>To: <A
href="http://by102fd.bay102.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=fb81feda83756e8fc022d859e7e41389&mailto=1&to=info@denali-biotechnologies.com&msg=E34785EC-BC6B-4E1E-97D9-8789FFF0F696&start=0&len=9335&src=&type=x"><FONT color=#000099>info@denali-biotechnologies.com</FONT></A><BR>Subject: Aurora Blue<BR><BR><BR>Hello,<BR><BR>I recently read about your product Aurora Blue and it sounds wonderful. As<BR>a practicing herbalist, I often recommend OPC and flavonoid rich plants and<BR>plant products to clients. Whenever I choose products my main concerns are<BR>content (pesticide free, etc.) as well as sustainability of the resource. I<BR>recently heard about the proposed indutrial scale berry picking by your<BR>Denali Biotechnologies. I am concerned that harvesting at such large scale<BR>levels is not sustainable to wild
berry populations. I hope that you will<BR>approach the harvesting concern wisely and use sound science to determine<BR>how these proposed practices will effect blueberry resources. I will<BR>continute to check your website for updates before I purchase any products.<BR><BR><BR>Thank you,<BR>~Amy<BR><BR><BR>Amy Brush<BR>Clinical Herbalist, Intern<BR>Tai Sophia Institute<BR>Laurel, MD 20723<BR><BR></P><BR><BR>
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<P>>From: Patricia_DeAngelis@fws.gov<BR>>To: mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org<BR>>Subject: [MPWG] Berry picking in Alaska - public comment period<BR>>Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2005 08:15:24 -0400<BR>><BR>>This issue does not appear to pertain to medicinals - but it does.<BR>><BR>>I received an e-mail about berry picking in Alaska that sparked my<BR>>curiousity. So, I Googled for more information...Below is the original<BR>>message, as well as some additional information, including a request for<BR>>public comment from Alaska's Department of Natural Resources.<BR>><BR>>-Patricia<BR>><BR>>Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.<BR>>Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority<BR>>Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group<BR>>US Fish & Wildlife Service<BR>>4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750<BR>>Arlington, VA
22203<BR>>703-358-1708 x1753<BR>>FAX: 703-358-2276<BR>>Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural<BR>>resources.<BR>><www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal><BR>><BR>><BR>>----- Original Message -----<BR>><BR>><BR>>Berry picking controversy<BR>>Everyone who enjoys picking wild berries in Southcentral Alaska should know<BR>>that a company named Denali Biotechnologies (funded by a $1.65 million<BR>>federal grant) intends to collect at least 150,000 pounds, and eventually<BR>>at least one million pounds, of wild blueberries in the Homer, Whittier,<BR>>Anchor Point and Seward areas starting this summer, and possibly in many<BR>>other areas as well.<BR>>Having picked many wild berries in Southcentral for years, I firmly believe<BR>>that this company’s industrial-scale harvesting will have a
tremendously<BR>>negative impact on this resource, and effectively leave little or no<BR>>berries for the general public to pick in these areas. Furthermore, they<BR>>intend for their pickers to use hand rakes, which if not carefully used<BR>>often cause these plants to die, after two or three years of having most of<BR>>their leaves stripped off in the picking process. Once again, an Outside<BR>>business is being allowed to come in and exploit our resources, at the<BR>>expense of the Alaskan public. Area we going to permit this company to<BR>>threaten the tradition of gathering wild berries for personal use? I<BR>>encourage anyone concerned by this matter to contact the Alaska Department<BR>>of Natural Resources, stephen_bethune@dnr.state.ak.us, and tell them that<BR>>our wild berries should remain freely available, and not sold off to
big<BR>>business.<BR>>Alan Kurczynski,<BR>>Chugiak<BR>><BR>><BR>>----- Additional Information -----<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>Denali Biotechnologies is a nutraceutical firm that describes itself as:<BR>><BR>><BR>> An innovative company dedicated to prospecting natural products for<BR>> pharmaceutical discovery and development of scientifically-validated<BR>> nutraceuticals from the extreme boreal environments of Alaska and<BR>> neighboring territories. (http://sbd.bcentral.com/bc__314483.aspx)<BR>><BR>>They make a product call Aurora Blue, made from blueberries...<BR>><BR>> Of at least ten wild species of Vaccinium that occur in Alaska, two of<BR>> these, Alaska Black Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium Sm.), also known<BR>> as Alaska Early Blueberry, and Bog Bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L.),<BR>> were selected for
AuroraBlue(Embedded image moved to file: pic29358.gif)<BR>> based on time-honored use in Alaska Native ethnomedicinal traditions.<BR>> Black Huckleberries hang in bunches from highbush plants growing within<BR>> the world's only temperate rainforests, whereas Bog Bilberries are<BR>> lowbush species that grow prolifically on the permafrost tundra.<BR>> Taxonomically, these wild species are as similar to blueberries as they<BR>> are to more distantly related cranberries and possess biochemical<BR>> characteristics of<BR>> both. (http://www.denali-biotechnologies.com/aurora.aspx)<BR>><BR>>According to their website,<BR>><BR>> The ingredients in AuroraBlue(Embedded image moved to file:<BR>> pic26962.gif)Flavon-Plus Formula are the finest quality available. The<BR>> berries are uncultivated, hand-gathered, and free of
applied pesticides<BR>> and herbicides or exposure to environmental pollutants in Alaska's<BR>> pristine wilderness.<BR>><BR>>The berry picking activity is currently open for public comment. Below, is<BR>>a summary of the public notice, as well as the weblink for more<BR>>information. Remember, this is not a vote, only substantive comments can<BR>>affect the outcome of this activity. That means submitting concrete<BR>>information as to the sustainability of this activity.<BR>><BR>><BR>> Whittier: Commercial Blueberry Harvest Notice - LAS 25255<BR>><BR>><BR>>"The following project is proposed in your area and is out for review for<BR>>consistency with the Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP) as well as<BR>>for review of the proposed issuance of permits from the State of Alaska,<BR>>Department of Natural Resources (DNR) - Division of
Mining, Land and Water<BR>>(DMLW). Comments on the proposed project's consistency with the ACMP and/or<BR>>an affected local coastal district management program, as well as any<BR>>comments on the proposed issuance of DMLW's authorization, are requested.<BR>><BR>><BR>>SCOPE OF PROJECT TO BE REVIEWED: An application has been received from<BR>>Gordon Haines dba Denali Biotechnologies. The project subject to this<BR>>consistency review is for a large scale commercial blueberry harvesting<BR>>operation. The location is the Whittier region within Sections 13, 23 & 24,<BR>>Township 8 North, Range 4 East; Sections 22, 23, 29 & 31-33, Township 9<BR>>North, Range 5 East; Sections 5, 6, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21 & 22, Township 8<BR>>North, Range 5 East. All within the Seward Meridian. If issued, the<BR>>five-year term of the permit will begin August 1,
2005 and end July 31,<BR>>2010.<BR>><BR>>APPLICANT: Gordon Haines, dba Denali Biotechnologies<BR>>PROJECT NAME: LAS# 25255<BR>>DEADLINE FOR ACMP COMMENTS: July 9, 2005 5:00pm<BR>>DEADLINE FOR PERMIT COMMENTS: July 22, 2005 5:00pm<BR>><BR>>A copy of this review packet is available for public inspection and copying<BR>>by contacting the Whittier Coastal District Coordinator Rick Hohnbaum, P.O.<BR>>Box 608, Whittier, AK 99693, Phone: 907-472-2327 Fax: 907-472-2404,<BR>>admin@ci.whittier.ak.us; or the Anchorage Coastal District Coordinator,<BR>>Thede Tobish, P.O. Box 196650, Anchorage, AK 99519-6650, Phone:<BR>>907-343-7918, Fax: 907-343-7927, TobishTG@ci.anchorage.ak.us.<BR>><BR>>Comments or questions related to the permit applications, or the ACMP<BR>>review should be directed to Stephen Bethune, DNR, DMLW, Southcentral<BR>>Region, 550 W.
7th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501, 269-8569, 269-8913 (fax)<BR>>stephen_bethune@dnr.state.ak.us.<BR>><BR>>To preserve your rights to file a petition under Alaska Statute 46.40.100<BR>>(b)(1), your comments are required at this time and should be addressed<BR>>directly to Stephen Bethune, Natural Resource Specialist."<BR>><BR>>Full details...<BR>>http://notes5.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/0/2f7ce490ee7c3bd28925701f0078e078?OpenDocument<BR>><< pic29358.gif >><BR>><< pic26962.gif >><BR>>_______________________________________________<BR>>MPWG mailing list<BR>>MPWG@lists.plantconservation.org<BR>>http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org<BR>><BR>>To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to MPWG-request@lists.plantconservation.org with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject
line.<BR>><BR>>Disclaimer<BR>>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.<BR></P></DIV></div></html>