International Carnivorous Plant Society

Carnivorous Plant Newsletter Archive

 

Carnivorous plants and conservation — the role of carnivorous plant enthusiasts

Andreas Fleischmann

Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 52(2):85-105
Published 1 May 2023

https://doi.org/10.55360/cpn522.af323

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Abstract

Carnivorous plants and their unique habitats face various threats, most of them being anthropogenic. About 25% of the known 860 carnivorous plant species are threatened or face extinction. Two of the threats are predominantly caused by 'carnivorous plant lovers'. The actions include 1) sale and trade of plants that have been illegally collected from the wild, a threat that has continuously increased in the past years and 2) planting of exotic carnivorous plant species into pristine habitats of native species. This article illustrates these problems and shows causal connections and the legal situation, which are apparently not known to everyone. A long-term solution can only be found if carnivorous plant lovers recognize and stop their misconduct. This article aims at closing knowledge gaps and to inform about the problem of threats to wild carnivorous plant populations by carnivorous plant lovers.

Keywords: poaching, illegal plant trade, wild collections, in situ conservation, ex situ conservation, species introductions, neophytes

Article Citation

Andreas Fleischmann. 2023. Carnivorous plants and conservation — the role of carnivorous plant enthusiasts. Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 52(2):85-105. https://doi.org/10.55360/cpn522.af323

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