"we will slowly lose the amateur entomologists"

[Mike Quinn]

Hi Chris, I would agrue that we are finally quickly gaining amateur
entomologists. NABA has in a few short years built up a membership that is
twice that of the Lep. Soc. which has a more or less stagnant membership
growth rate.
Mike Quinn, Donna, TX

P.S. Personally I am an occational-collector of insects, not an
anti-collector. Mike

Chris Raper wrote:
>That's really my point. We need the keen, eager 'Joe Public' who can
>butterfly / bird watch and help in whatever way they can. But if we
>stigmatise collecting and fail to get across the message about how
>vital it is, when done in an appropriate manner, we will slowly lose
>the amateur entomologists, capable of giving conservationists the
>necessary information they need to do their jobs. There will always be
>professionals but they are usually busy earning money for their
>employers and in their spare time they have other commitments.
>
>Of course, I'm not saying that we should force nets into kid's hands
>and make them kill as many butterflies as possible. But if we do the
>exact opposite it is likely to have an adverse effect on the very
>wildlife we all want to look after.
>
>Best wishes,
>Chris R.