Conditions for Overcollecting

[Eric or Pat Metzler]

Hi all,

Some governmental agencies, especially the Ohio Division of Wildlife, fully
understand the related issues of habitat protection and collecting.  In
fact, it is not against the law to collect state endangered species in Ohio
on non-protected lands.  The reason for this is that the Division of
Wildlife wants to know about all populations of the endangered species,
particularly those not yet recorded.  It also seeks to manage and protect
the habitats that are home to the endangered species.  By making it legal to
collect these species on non-protected lands, they encourage us to seek out
new localities, rather than go back to the same old place over and over
again.  No fun in getting endangered species always in the same place,
especially when trampling habitats and other human intrusions are likely to
do as much damage as taking a few vouchers.

Note that damage to endangered species comes from a variety of activities,
not just taking individuals.  On some postage stamp sized sites in Ohio,
trampling by observers and collectors IS habitat destruction, and is much
more of a problem than taking any individuals.

How did the Ohio Division of Wildlife come to recognize the need to
encourage collecting of endangered species in new localities?  It took a lot
of hard work by the members of The Ohio Lepidopterists interacting with the
agency personnel and teaching those good folks about the facts of life for
invertebrates, and to also have great respect for the tough job (and lack of
money) provided to the agencies to protect endangered animals.  The mutual
respect and understanding did not come from disdain for the folks who
legally control the destiny of our future access to these animals.

Anyone can do it, but it isn't easy.  Tack, diplomacy, and an attitude that
"I do not have the right to collect anything anytime anywhere I want" works
wonders.  John Shuey, who also posted under this subject line, was an active
participant in convincing the Ohio's authorities to take such an enlighted
approach.  It is clear from John's postings that he too has given this great
thought.

I'm an active collector - I have no plans to give it up, but I have great
respect for the rules and regulations.  When stumped, I take time to talk to
the regulators, and I try and change the rules.  It works.  Or if I cannot
change the rules, I go someplace else.  But I always try to change the
rules.

Here's wishing the very best collecting season ever in the year 2000.

Cheers,

Eric Metzler
Columbus OH USA

PS:  You are all invited to the 21st Annual Meeting of The Ohio
Lepidopterists at the Ohio State University Museum of Biological Diversity,
1315 Kinnear Ave, Columbus OH 43212.  Doors open at 9:00 am and the program
starts at 1:00 pm.  A Friday night open house will welcome all persons who
arrive the night before.  It is always a great event.  You'll be glad you
attended.   Write me, spruance at infinet.com if you want more details.



"John Grehan" <jrg13 at psu.edu> wrote in message
news:3.0.1.16.20000103085700.4cef805a at email.psu.edu...
> I wish to add my support to the comments by Mark Walker regarding
> the problem of commercial collecting of proscribed species and
> the reality of overcollecting. As both Mark and Niklas Wahlberg
> point out, habitat issues represent a critical element of the survival
> problem. I wonder if conservation related agencies find it so much easier
> to give the appearance of action by regulating collecting than actually
> solving decimation or loss of habitat. If the US Fish and Wildlife
Service,
> for example, put as much effort into habitat as they appear to have with
>  imposing the Lacy Act perhaps a lot of insects (and other organisms)
> would have been a lot better off. The postings about habitat requirements
will
> certainly provide a realistic context for evaluating collecting. In New
> Zealand
> there was an early (but fortunately abortive) effort to regulate all
insect
> collecting while habitats were being actively destroyed throughout the
> country, often with government financing.
>
> I recently found that State regulations for a collecting permit were so
> restrictive for general collecting that I had to return the permit -
result
> no collecting for me and nothing learned about the area in question
> for the agency that developed the permit regulations.
>
> I admit some of the above comments are generalized and open to
> critique.
>
> John Grehan
>