Jungle Collected Plants!? Illegal?

[Cattleya17]

Hello i was wondering first off if this is illegal? and if it is how long has it been illegal? If its not then it should be!!!!!!! i ask because i have been seeing (or noticing it more) sales on eBay and other places selling Jungle collected plants and i read some where that you should report them. this is the link (Hope its ok i post a link... if its not i am terribly sorry and will never do it again)

Brassavola nodosa Jungle Collected LAST ONE | eBay

It says that it was collected over 30 years ago but they could be lying! i don't know... but i just want to know what the deal is with this?

[Bud]

some countries allow harvesting from the wild if it is not an endangered specimen. Allowing it to enter this country is another thing. they must have a phyto certificate that the plant is free of bugs and is clean.
Some Thai orchids enter the USA with a Phyto certificate bare roots and some of them are collected from the wilds...
30 yrs ago the laws were totally different from today. But then 30 years ago the plant must have mericloned and cloned several times that it was no longer jungle collected but grown in a GH... its original parents were collected from the jungle.
Endangered species are illegal to be moved from their habitat.
Brassavola nodosa is not an endangered specie and its not even rare...a lot of growers sell them; its a beautiful flower

[msaar]

The legality or illegality of collecting wild plants is not controlled by international treaty but by each country as they see fit. International trade in all orchid species is controlled by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The requirements for various species are listed in Appendix I,II, & III. Orchids are in either Appendix I or II. Endangered species are listed in Appendix I and can only be permitted for export if artificially propogated and in artificial solid media. This includes all Phragmipediums, all Paphiopedilums, and a handfull of other species. All other orchids are in appendix II and may be exported with appropriate permitting. (This is a quick and dirty overview. Do not use it as a basis for any action.)

[camille1585]

But I believe that wild collected plants (newly collected ones at least) can not be traded internationally under CITES, because it exists to avoid that sort of thing, even their sale is legal in some countries. I may be wrong, but I thought that platns were inspected for obvious signs of wild collection? As to a 30 year ago collected plant, I suppose that those can't be proven to be wild or cultivated anyway at that point.

Even if it's possible to get one legally I would never buy a wild collected plant. and cultivated plants are so much better adapted to life outside their jungles.

I find it absolutely REVOLTING that some countries still allow wild collection of plants. Orchids do not multiply and grow all that quickly, so even by collecting only abundant species, one day they won't be so abundant.

[msaar]

From the text of the treaty (CITES):

2. The export of any specimen of a species included in Appendix II shall require the prior grant and presentation of an export permit. An export permit shall only be granted when the following conditions have been met:

(a) a Scientific Authority of the State of export has advised that such export will not be detrimental to the survival of that species;

(b) a Management Authority of the State of export is satisfied that the specimen was not obtained in contravention of the laws of that State for the protection of fauna and flora; and

(c) a Management Authority of the State of export is satisfied that any living specimen will be so prepared and shipped as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.

[isurus79]

Some plants (like B. nodosa) are VERY abundant in nature and some collecting will not hurt their population. They are also VERY abundant in cultivation, so why anyone would buy a temperamental, hard to grow jungle plant when they could have an easy to grow, line bred plant that is perfectly adapted to life in captivity is beyond me. Especially at that price!! I guess a fool and his money are soon parted! lol

[Cattleya17]

I would never buy one either!!! i would imagine like you said a collected plant will not be very happy in a home!!!! I also would never buy one based on principal (Personal Principal) I only think that they should be collected when the species is in immediate danger of extinction, or when being collected by the powers at hand for science, and so that it can be cloned or grown to flower to pollinate and collect seed and get the plants that way!!!

it makes me a little upset to see selling of jungle collected plants whether it is legal or not.

I love the info you gave Msaar!!!!!!!!!!

[Eyebabe]

Most of the people I have met who own "jungle collected" plants are breeders with an extremely high interest in conservation.

The plants I have seen are 50+ years old and virtually worshiped for their uniqueness.
Their use in breeding helps to conserve their genome.
Furthermore, as habitats are destroyed when modern construction moves into jungles, the collected plant may tragically become the only representation of a species.

In the distant past, jungle collection had all but wiped out some species in nature and was the bane of conservation.
Hopefully we have reached a point where the interests can merge.

I would consider owning a "jungle collected" plant only as a responsibility to keep that particular representation of species alive and in the present.

[Cattleya17]

Right On! i have an orchid book that mentions just that Eyebabe!!!!! it shows conservationists collecting orchids from a habitat the is being destoryed its truly a nightmare situation! i i could save one little piece of the way is used to be i would!!! i would too consider owning one if it was be lost! if i could keep it alive that is LOL!

I would polinate and sow the seeds and grow many many many of the plant and them re plant them somewhere????? in dream only......because i could never grow one from seed lol!!!

[stefpix]

What about collecting epiphytes from trees cut for logging or agriculture or development? that would actually be beneficial to conservation