Many people did in fact comment during the review period when these NAPPRA
rules were proposed. Those comments, part of the public record, became
unaccountably difficult to relocate because access and storage were
changed.
As I recall there were 50 or more comments from a very wide range of
interested parties, each with a distinct and thoughtful view. It was
enlightening to read what they had to say. Except for one or two comments
from advocates against "invasives", the arguments were firmly against doing
away with the "innocent until proven guilty" system.
It would be of interest to know by what rationale-- assuming public input
has any meaningful impact at all-- the USDA approved of the change to a
system of "guilty until proven innocent".
Dylan Hannon
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 24 May 2016 01:54:52 +0000 (UTC)
From: Gordon Hogenson <gordonhogenson@yahoo.com>
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [pbs] possible change in importation rules (NAPPRA) now
Kudzu
Message-ID:
<1819009897.1543714.1464054892492.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com>
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I would urge folks to pay attention to the USDA comment periods on proposed
regulation changes and be sure that the USDA understands the impact of the
proposed?restrictions on regular gardeners and hobbyists, who are also
playing a significant role in plant conservation.? Most plants are
perfectly safe to import and any move to a whitelist where only approved
plants are allowed?is going to mean that conservation of rare and difficult
plants, the very plants that collector gardeners are most keen to locate
and grow, will become much more difficult.
Kudzu?and?similarly destructive plants are?really a?small minority of plant
taxa. Using them as examples is focusing on worst-case scenarios to a point
where it is misleading and dishonest when applied to the vast majority of
plants.? Many plants labeled invasive?really are just adding to the
biodiversity rather than detracting from it.?The current system of focusing
on taxa that are known to be truly destructive is the least restrictive
method and the least likely to interfere with the trade of plants which is
absolutely critical in preserving rare types.
Gordon, PNW, zone 7, where L. dauricum is starting the lily season, and
many native plants flourish harmoniously?alongside garden plants from other
locales.
*"The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add an
useful plant to its culture…" --**Thomas Jefferson*
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