Post by Flytrap on Jan 27, 2007 15:21:34 GMT -5
Only a matter of time before someone here posted something on this important topic.
Global warming - some believe it, some think about it, most just hear bits about it.
For many of us, the collectors and admirers of this beautiful category of plants, the CPs... I strongly feel that many of our native CP habitats are irrepairably destroyed. We've heard much in the past of CP poaching, destruction of habitat due to deforestation and human habitat development... but now, a new dark horse is on the horizon. Global warming.
I'm a scientist by training and I don't jump onto things for the sheer emotional draw of it, but to understand the rationale and evidence behind the story.
I recently purchased a collection of Charles Clarke's new books on the magnificent Nepenthes (thanks Ken Boorman), and described in one of the beautiful books, I learned to my horror, that an area in Borneo where some species of Nepenthes grow have been almost wiped out. Many of these highland neps have such a small limited range (in the order of a square mile or two… and found no where else ), that the loss of it’s habitat will have far reaching consequences to everything attached to that natural web.
The few species of concern grow extremely slow, maybe a few inches/ a foot every decade or so (!). So when Clark indicated that these Nep plants had established itself there for a long time (decades? centuries?), it was troubling to learn that the Neps that once graced the area had been suffering big time due to drought. And many formerly robust plants are now dead.
To paraphrase his information - “…the Neps that used to crowd the walking trails, were found dead and were all dried up, not as a result of people trampling down on them, but because of the severe lack of rainfall…”
This is terrible. All the Tissue culturing in the world would never bring back the genetic diversity that was once available.
We all have to act responsibly. Each one of us, no matter how small and individual, can add to the aggregate knowledge and well-being or our environment. I can't tell you how to live your lives, but I can ask each of you to respect and to care for what we have today so that our kids and grandkids will have something to enjoy.
Seeing a photograph of a Nepenthes is nothing compared to the overwhelming feeling of seeing a plant in the wild - knowing that it somehow managed to germinate from a tiny, wind dispersed seed, against all odds of sun, rain and herbivores stacked against it... Each with it's own unique colouration, pitcher form, and growth pattern. Unique from it's siblings through small differences. And highly appreciated by most of us.
Be it a Nepenthes, Sarracenia, Drosera or any other beauty - the raw feeling of seeing a CP in the wild is exhilarating. That's why so many of us, despite already having the ubiquitous VFT in our collection, would still like to make a trip to visit the little guy's ancestral habitat. Same for Cephalotus, Darlingtonia and friends.
Catch a few of those great programs on "Global Warming" on the BBC / CBC and share the concern.
Good luck all.
David
Global warming - some believe it, some think about it, most just hear bits about it.
For many of us, the collectors and admirers of this beautiful category of plants, the CPs... I strongly feel that many of our native CP habitats are irrepairably destroyed. We've heard much in the past of CP poaching, destruction of habitat due to deforestation and human habitat development... but now, a new dark horse is on the horizon. Global warming.
I'm a scientist by training and I don't jump onto things for the sheer emotional draw of it, but to understand the rationale and evidence behind the story.
I recently purchased a collection of Charles Clarke's new books on the magnificent Nepenthes (thanks Ken Boorman), and described in one of the beautiful books, I learned to my horror, that an area in Borneo where some species of Nepenthes grow have been almost wiped out. Many of these highland neps have such a small limited range (in the order of a square mile or two… and found no where else ), that the loss of it’s habitat will have far reaching consequences to everything attached to that natural web.
The few species of concern grow extremely slow, maybe a few inches/ a foot every decade or so (!). So when Clark indicated that these Nep plants had established itself there for a long time (decades? centuries?), it was troubling to learn that the Neps that once graced the area had been suffering big time due to drought. And many formerly robust plants are now dead.
To paraphrase his information - “…the Neps that used to crowd the walking trails, were found dead and were all dried up, not as a result of people trampling down on them, but because of the severe lack of rainfall…”
This is terrible. All the Tissue culturing in the world would never bring back the genetic diversity that was once available.
We all have to act responsibly. Each one of us, no matter how small and individual, can add to the aggregate knowledge and well-being or our environment. I can't tell you how to live your lives, but I can ask each of you to respect and to care for what we have today so that our kids and grandkids will have something to enjoy.
Seeing a photograph of a Nepenthes is nothing compared to the overwhelming feeling of seeing a plant in the wild - knowing that it somehow managed to germinate from a tiny, wind dispersed seed, against all odds of sun, rain and herbivores stacked against it... Each with it's own unique colouration, pitcher form, and growth pattern. Unique from it's siblings through small differences. And highly appreciated by most of us.
Be it a Nepenthes, Sarracenia, Drosera or any other beauty - the raw feeling of seeing a CP in the wild is exhilarating. That's why so many of us, despite already having the ubiquitous VFT in our collection, would still like to make a trip to visit the little guy's ancestral habitat. Same for Cephalotus, Darlingtonia and friends.
Catch a few of those great programs on "Global Warming" on the BBC / CBC and share the concern.
Good luck all.
David