Re: N. ampullaria site revisited
 

Hmm, I agree with you, bactrus. Education is certainly important. Just that on that day, I was a little tired and when I saw those poor CPs, I felt angry. Sigh, I'm still thinking about them now!

Maybe will visit site, I dunno, must see how is survivirous.:smile:

Cheers, pray for the CPs.

Re: N. ampullaria site revisited
 

Being proactive is also helpful. If you hear that a company might be planning to build over a site with endangered plants or animals on it, you should make it known to them and the government. That way an alternative plan for building might be came up with and hurting that habitat can be avoided.

Re: N. ampullaria site revisited
 

Ok, I hope I don't get dragged into jail by the ISA for this... :laugh: It does not work here in my country. The focus "in the high places" is always on the development and the people who would benefit from that arrangement. Eventhough the laws are strict on the collection of wild plants/animals, conservation, etc. but the decision from the authorities are most of the time contradictory.

I know that NGOs like Malaysian Nature Society, WWF, etc have been fighting for conservation issues in Malaysia but I see very little changes, not because they are not working hard enough but because of the attitude of those involve in the decision making.

I totally agree with Ban Aik that education is the key, but of course the people who make the decisions must also have a change of heart. We must continue to educate and NGOs must continue to fight the good fight. Just like William Wilberforce who, as a Member of Parliament in the British Empire, navigated the world of 18th Century backroom politics to end the slave trade in the British Empire. It wasn't overnight. It took his health, and entire life but it was worth it.

Re: N. ampullaria site revisited
 

Agreed. Hence, CPers of this forum, we have a monumental task. Not only we have to take interest and protect CPs but also the biodiversity which supports it. See if I have time to go there next week- work and afterwork I collect.

Re: N. ampullaria site revisited
 

In developing countries like Malaysia, priority is usually given to development and wealth creation, so all the talks about conservation and protecting natural flora and fauna will get thrown out of window when there's $$$ involved. Sad to say but this is the thruth and we all know it. I have witnessed a supposely reserved forest been cleared away without any interference from the authorithies, I've personally send the info (pics and location) to local NGO known as MNS and it didn't stop the loggings. So I'm very skeptical what the authorities or legal channel can do for a concerned citizen like me to protect our forest.

I totally agree education to create/increase AWARENESS is the key but this will take a long time for this idea to get established especially in developing countries. So for now, I feel it's up to a few of us that share the same concern to do what little we can to preserve what mother nature has created if we know for sure the site will be gone forever. If the site is in a protected forest reserve, pls let mother nature do the work, so we and our children have the chance to admire and appreciate what she has to offer.... :2thumbup:

Re: N. ampullaria site revisited
 

This is a problem not only in developing countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, but here in the USA, in northern New Jersey! A few years ago, I saw a sign by the road, that said "Future Luxury Homes" with McMansions sprawl in this upper middle class neighborhood, but where one of the best stands of the native orchid Cyprepidium acaule grew along with several very rare ferns (Botrichium sp.), and so I went to my local municipality, and spoke with the officials telling them of the protected plants in that area, and that such devestating construction must be stopped.

The signs came down after a week, but several months later, I drove by, and was shocked to see the heavy equipment clearing land, and even noticed the pink flowers of these terrestrial orchids driven into their tracks. I went back to the local municipality, but they refused to discuss the issue with me, other than saying that "everything is legal and proper." In retrospect, I wish that I had gotten the American Orchid Society involved with a court order putting a stop to all development.

Human greed is a fact of life that we have to deal with, unfortunately. Several years ago, I heard of a habitat destruction in Sabah, where N. burbidgea and N. rajah grew, also supposedly protected, for a massive luxury resort and golf course complex that totally wiped out all those plants.

Boker Hill in Cambodia is a more recent account of habitat destruction, without allowing anyone to rescue the doomed Nepenthes plants endemic to the site, just recently described.

Once again, I have no problems if conscientious travelers would harvest some cuttings and/or seed of these plants when they can, and make sure they get into responsible homes where they can survive, and spread into other collections. N. clippeata is totally extinct in the wild now, with only a few plants in some collections scatttered all over the world; Wistuba sells 3 clones.

I hear of limestone quarries where N. northiana grows in northern Sarawak; I hope someone resues these plants before it's too late.

Just my two cents. - Rich

Re: N. ampullaria site revisited
 

The rate nature is falling, sooner or later pretty plants can only be be seen in private collection or just pirctures on teh Web! Pressure on the planet is heavy and getting heavier by the day!

Those days before the communist surrendered, most jungle in Malaysia were prestine, virgin jungle as it was thousands of years ago. The communist actually indirectly protected the rain forest. In fact, I think they should be recognised for this act. Since their surrender in 1989 I think, everything is going. The jungles along the East West highway is just a facade. Look further behind... there is nothing. The jungle raped! (excuse the word but nothing else describe the situation).

Sigh... sad sad sad....

Re: N. ampullaria site revisited
 

Sorry David, I didn't know that.

Maybe I should think about this from a lawyer's perspective. "Ok how can we make lots of $$$ from endangered plants and animals?"

Re: N. ampullaria site revisited
 

Ummmmmmmmmm........Wellll......... NEVER!!!!.....HEHEHEH

Ken

Re: N. ampullaria site revisited
 

Laws are made to be bent. Laws can never be absolute. There is always the grey are which one can thrive in. Thrive not just survive, that is where money is made; also that is where (in our case) nature is destroyed. All depends on humans to keep the balance but since greed is the most common and dominant character in man, the ying and yang is tip off balance.

Also, at times it has to be done. Sacrifices has to be made. So, where the line should be drawn? As more humans emerge on this planet, pressure on nature will become heavier. And always, since the industrial revolution, nature is dispensable... till its too late!