[OGD] Legal and Illegal orchids; PNG
In OGD V9 #305, Colin Hamilton said: The PNG Government only banned the export of their orchids and became the CITES agency for the country 10 or so years ago. So can someone enlighten me how anyone can prove the 'legality' of PNG orchids collected before the mid-90's? Sorry Colin, you've got the date wrong. It was much earlier than that. In February 1990, The Dept. of Environment Conservation circulated a document called PNG Wildlife Protection, Chapter 391, International Trade (Fauna and Flora), Schedules 1 and 2, which was basically a statement of the CITES regulations as they applied to plants at that time. This document made clear that PNG was a signatory to CITES, and that CITES reulations applied in PNG under the existing Wildlife Protection Act. On 4th September 1990, Barney Rongap, Secretary to the Dept. of Environment Conservation, gave a press conference in which he announced a total ban on the export of all wild orchids from PNG. Prior to February 1990, exports from PNG were frequently legitimised by the application of a single rubber stamp at the offices of the National Capital District Botanic Gardens in Port Moresby. Cheers, Peter O'Byrne ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Legal and Illegal orchids
Colin who wrote; I can only assume that orchids from other countries exist around the world, all collected and exported before CITES was ever thought of. Of course they exist and they can be removed by the orchid police, as happened in 1988 to Bosha Popow, a well known German breeder of Lady's slippers. Almost 8000 breeding plants were confiscated. You can read it in Eric Hansen's book Orchid Fever ISBN 0-679-45141-2 peter ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Legal and Illegal orchids
I have watched the discussion of the purported change to the provisions of CITES regulations in the USA (in particular) and the requirement for the owner to produce appropriate documentation to prove their legality. While this began with Phrag. kovachii, someone mentioned the orchids of Papua New Guinea. The PNG Government only banned the export of their orchids and became the CITES agency for the country 10 or so years ago. So can someone enlighten me how anyone can prove the 'legality' of PNG orchids collected before the mid-90's? I know there are many grown here in Australia, particularly Dendrobiums. I can only assume that orchids from other countries exist around the world, all collected and exported before CITES was ever thought of. Colin Hamilton Webmaster Australian Orchid Council/Orchids Australia Rockhampton, Qld ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
