<br><font size=3 face="Arial">I agree with Johnny and Larry on their points
regarding planting endangered and threatened species into the wild. But,
I applaud your work and enthusiasm and would love to see that energy and
interest put to use! There are many options for getting more involved
in conservation. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">In addition to the work that CPC has undertaken
for the past 25 years, there are county, state, and federal programs that
focus on monitoring, restoration and conservation - and many of these programs
would welcome volunteers. Check out the local refuge, national forest,
botanic garden, University, or nature center. This is the age of
"partnerships" and there are likely to be a variety of activities,
some possibly involving T&E species, to which the gardeners would be
well-suited. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">We all know that gardening instills an awareness
of nature in children. The mint family would make a GREAT focus for school
children! Work with local schools to create and provide info to kids,
census and tend native plants on their sites, etc. See what Georgia
Plant Conservation Alliance is doing: <http://www.bgci.org/education/people_plants_habitats/>.
</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Gardeners with a good knowledge of local
species can put their skills to use by getting involved in census work.
Many counties or states would appreciate receiving information on species
occurrences. Native plant societies, for instance, often verify species
checklists as they conduct their native plant walks - Larry could give
you more info on how that works.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">You should also check out the new book -
"</font><a href="http://blogs.scottarboretum.org/gardenseeds/2008/02/bringing-nature-home/"><font size=3 face="Arial">Bringing
Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in our Gardens " by
Dr. Douglas W. Tallamy</font></a><font size=3 face="Arial">. Some
pretty interesting statistics in there!</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">I fully believe that gardening and gardeners
have a role in the "conservation conversation." Many of
us found our way into the work we do because of our love for the plants
we had in our own back yards. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Good luck!</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">-Patricia</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">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 110<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 resources.<br>
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal><br>
</font>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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<td width=40%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>botresearchusa@academicplanet.com</b>
</font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">08/13/2008 02:22 PM</font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org</font>
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<td>
<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">[PCA] Assistance Needed For C0onservation
Project</font></table>
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<br>
<br><tt><font size=2>PCA Menbers and Cooperators,<br>
<br>
Botresearch USA has for the last 15 years been involved in research <br>
involving plants of the Lamiaceae/ Labiatae family. We have also been <br>
involved in the conservation of threatened and endangered species and <br>
the esatblishment of a conservation garden for all speices in this <br>
plant family.<br>
<br>
Several years ago we decided to open up a forum on the internet which <br>
would educate the general public about these species and promote their
<br>
conservation.<br>
This year we have had an influx of members in this group which are <br>
avid gardeners, master gardeners, and horticulturists. The group which
<br>
is composed of members from numerous states asked me if there was a <br>
way that they could be more involved with the endangered species and <br>
in our discussions, they came up with the idea that each one of them <br>
would be a project leader and recruit other people in their area who <br>
were interested in gardening and the plants in this family to be in <br>
their individual groups.Each one of these groups would take seed<br>
which we could obtain from the threatened and endangered species, <br>
germinate the seed and grow the plants to maturity.When the plants <br>
proiduced seed, each group would harvest the seed from the plants <br>
native to their state, and distribute<br>
part of them to botanical gardens, garden clubs and conservation <br>
organizations, with the pre-condition that these organizations would <br>
put some in their gardens and take the bulk of the seed and scatter <br>
them in rural areas or farmland areas, or they could germinate the <br>
seed and then take the seedlings and distribute them in these <br>
areas.The group leaders of our project would also call together it's <br>
members and likewise scatter the seed in similar areas.This would be <br>
an ongoing project.<br>
<br>
We need those of you who are in posession of these species of seed to <br>
donate about 50 seed of each specie so that we can initiate <br>
production.We also need<br>
those of you who would be willing to take the seed that they produce <br>
and your organization scatter the seed in the rural or farmland areas <br>
or use them to grow seedlings to plant in these areas.Those of you who
<br>
would be willing to help in either or both aspects of this project, <br>
please contact me at:<br>
botresearchusa@sbcglobal.net . Thank you for your time and consideration.<br>
<br>
Kindest Regards,<br>
J.N.Covanes<br>
Director of Research<br>
Botresearch USA<br>
www.botresearch.com<br>
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