Fatboy,
I was being general w/ my beliefs regarding field collecting, not specifically towards N. clipeata.
While your points are valid, I'm not sure if it is the best solution for the N. clipeata problem. Collecting seeds is not as dramatic as removing plants from the wild, as the success rate of seed germination is naturally low. The scenario I was referring to is regarding people justifying field collecting for their own needs -- whether it is for monetary gain, or personal enjoyment gained from growing the plant.
I understand what you are trying to do. It is a difficult problem, and can be debated from many points of view. Here are some concerns that I'm going to throw out in the open, that I don't have the best answers for... What should be the criteria for field collecting? Who should be responsible for field collecting? How do we know that other N. clipeata field collectors didn't the same intent and purpose as you have? Who is going to reintroduce the plants to the wild? If grown in captivity, how do we ensure that plant receives the same environmental conditions as in the wild (especially for reintroduction purposes)? How do we ensure the species remain pure? How much should be field collected without decimating the natural population?
The best solution is to protect the land where the species are naturally found, and it seems that this is not possible for N. clipeata. If some natural event (not directly/indirectly caused by man) forces a specie to die in it's natural habitat, so be it.
N. clipeata and many other species have been cultivated. While it can be hard to locate and possibly expensive to buy, it is still possible to find one. My purpose is to raise awareness on the issues surrounding field collecting. Any judgement call should be made from the specie's (whether it be plant's or animal's) point of view, not anthrogenic.
Regards,
Emesis
(Edited by Emesis at 11:55 am on Oct. 30, 2001)
(Edited by Emesis at 11:56 am on Oct. 30, 2001)