[b said:
Quote[/b] ]- what if you don't get a reply from your letter and it's binned ?
- what if the local policymakers or developers don't grant you
permission to get the plants
Here's my answer the these questions.
If you don't get a reply, write another letter, call them on the phone, show up in person, do what ever it takes. I learned in a class I took one time that the best way to get a letter to somebody is to use Fed-ex. If you send a Fed-ex letter it will get their attention. They will know that you are serious and they will be serious with their response.
[b said:
Quote[/b] ] what if the local policymakers or developers don't grant you
permission to get the plants
The time to start saving the sites are now, not when they are being drained and dozed. I've said this before but what you need to do is find a site that is closest to you, contact the owner, inform the owner how rare the plants are. The most important thing to do is to make friends with the owner, don't make threats or demands. Be friendly and get permission to visit this site from time to time and make sure that it stays healthy. If the owner decides to sell the property then repeat the process with the new owner. If he decides to develop it then if you have done the above steps, he'll have no problem with letting you save the plants. If the new owner wants to develop it and don't want to talk to you, write letters, make phone calls asking for permission to save some of the plants. You still need to be friendly and non-threatening. If all else fails then write another letter and say that you're going to inform the public as to what happening. If no response, write the local newspaper, radio stations and TV stations, stand in front of the property with a sign. If you have done all this and they still bring the dozers. Do whatever you feel you need to do. This is not a job, it's a sacrifice, you will never be repaid for what you've done or the money that you have spent. So sacrifice as much as you are willing to. I know how far I'm willing to go, I won't stand there saving plants while I'm getting shot at. But anything below that I'll do. I'll pay a fine for trespassing and theft. I've been to jail for way less then trespassing, I'd be proud to go to jail for saving some plants. It'll even get publicity and get my message out to the local public.
As far as finding homes for the plants, don't worry about it. If you have a bunch of plants die, because you can't find a home for it, that's ok it was going to die anyway. At least you tried. If you can't find homes for some, then send it to me I have never turned down a cp in need of a home. If you're worried about having to sell some plants to make it worth your time then don't bother trying to save them in the first place.