----- Original Message -----
From:
Regferns@aol.com
To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2001 7:56 PM
Subject: A Different Perspective
We are indeed immersed
in a difficult subject. I would like to be on the side that says "the law
is the law." But, being who I am I also realize that at one time
"laws" were created to prevent me from drinking out of the same
water-fountains as those from a different race. Laws also prevented
me from voting, laws also prevented my grandparents from obtaining an
education. I like to think of myself as one who recognizes the need for
rules and order, but I am also a person who is not blind, my eyes are wide
open.That said, this is what I have seen. The CITES agreement is
haphazard at best. Those of you who have never stepped foot in a
jungle nor visited a foreign country to witness for yourselves what is
happening to not only the rainforest, but forests or even woodlands, are
living in a dreamworld, if you think that the creators of CITES know best.
As Betsy mentioned, just listening to the chainsaws in the distance is
chilling. Seeing huge numbers of barges floating down the Rajang
River in Sarawak (Borneo) is mesmerizing, flying over Peninsular Malaysia
and looking at the thousands, upon thousands of newly planted acres of oil
palm groves is enough to bring a tear to your eye. And if you really
want to drop to your knees and weep, go through an area where the legal
loggers (from other countries who have paid HANDSOMELY) are working.
Notice how they take down a century old dipterocarp. Notice
how many epiphytes: orchids (CITES appendix 1), aroids, ferns are stripped
from the trees and are allowed to bake in the sun and ultimately die.
Then it dawns on you that once these magnificent trees are gone, the
understory quickly vanishes because of lack of protection. Once the
understory vanishes, the fauna that depended on the understory now
vanishes. My point: the CITES agreement does not really work.
Many of these countries require hard cash to operate--and logging is
a wonderful source. There are those of you who talk about working to
change the laws--how noble. I have always hated this saying, but the
older I get the more I truly recognize the meaning: "Money Talks..."
you know the rest. This CITES situation really needs to be addressed,
but because there are so many different agendas at play, ultimately the
flora and fauna will lose. And there will be no plants or animals
to save--even with the best intentions. The jungles are disappearing
at an alarming rate. And it is not due to collectors. 85% of the
state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo is now destroyed because of
logging. And even though Sarawak has signed a biodiversity agreement
forbidding plants and animals to leave the area, the loggers still have
free reign. Just a view from one of the places I visit. Reggie
Whitehead South Miami, Florida
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