Hi Mark: You are correct, the USA has never signed the CBD - but most of the countries that American botanic gardens collect plants in have signed. To facilitate continuing collecting (and in some cases invitations to collect), many (I realize there are exceptions) American botanical gardens have voluntarily 'adopted' the CBD. This approach (hopefully) protects our institutions from foreign governments suing us if/when the CBD is adopted by the USA. As long as we aren't a signatory we are immune from any related lawsuits. In the spirit of CBD, we are very careful to make sure our host country receives compensation in the forms of training for their staff, transfer of technology hardware and software, equivalent collecting opportunities for their staff in the USA, etc. Sort of the 'golden rule' put into practice. Boyce Tankersley On Thu, Sep 8, 2011 at 9:39 AM, MARK MAZER AND FREDRIKA MAZER < markmazerandfm13@earthlink.net> > > > Folly of course...the treaty has never (20 years or so) been ratified in > the US and the legal enforcement mechanisms are ...what...nonexistant. > > Mark Mazer > Hertford, North Carolina US > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ >