Provenance Data for collection material?

Michael Homick michaelhomick@gmail.com
Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:25:28 PST
Dear Friends
I am writing this inquiry wearing two hats. One as a collector and grower
of plants as most members of PBS are, and as the chairman of the seed
exchange for the North American Lily Society. Most Botanical Gardens are
not interested in acquiring plant material unless extremely rare, without
location collection data included. Similarly many private growers also
request similar data for their collections.

My question is, where or if a line should be drawn between precision of
the data and risk to the native population with location data becoming
public knowledge for poaching. Just checking my Car GPS for driving; it is
registering N37 degrees 21.143 minutes and W120 degrees 49.663 minutes as I
an sitting at my computer. I just have to move 6 feet about 2 meters and
the coordinates change.

I guess my question is.... for botanical gardens, how precise do you wish
the data to be, and is there a double standard where botanical gardens
share info on a more accurate level between each other than for
dissemination to private growers.

As time goes on, and with cutbacks to botanical gardens it becomes more
critical that private collectors step up and maintain some of the material.
But just how precise should the provenance data be kept? 1.85 meters, 18.5
meters, 185 meters, 1.85 kilometers,  you get the idea.

Your thoughts and comments most welcome. Please don't use the coordinates
above to test any missiles.
Merry Christmas and seasons best to all,
Michael Homick, Stevinson, CA



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