Thanks Drew! Your words and actions are very much appreciated! I also just want to point out that this has been a joint effort; I've been getting assistance from lots of different directions/people/organizations all these years! You all know who you are - Thank You!!!
Now, I hope this isn't too long of a post, but lots of pictures to share!Haa, haa, haa...just found this old thread from 4 years ago on 'Conservation' on the flora nepenthecea forum which I will quote from a bit...Read more:
lhnn.proboards.com/thread/3341/conservation#ixzz2XtIArUdoShawninTland, flora nepenthecea Forum, Oct., 2009;
"I am really hoping to hear suggestions from many others here.
Believe me, there are people here willing to try to make a difference, putting their time, money and effort into it!"
"I've been running these ideas through my head for a number of years now, trying to come up with ways to make a difference. I refuse to believe all is lost and that the best we can do is take pictures and describe them before they are gone! Please, let's try focus on what can work, not on what cannot!"
ShawninTland, flora nepenthecea Forum, Oct., 2009;
"I'm attempting to work out a program to put a potted Nep in every Thai classroom in the country. The idea being that we also supply a CD
and a written (Thai) booklet explaining the value of these wonderful natural resources of the country to the children. Hopefully after having some first hand experience in growing one of these marvels it will stick in the kids' minds."
ShawninTland, flora nepenthecea Forum, Oct., 2009;
“The schools project is just one little side aspect that popped into my head when I was asked to host a group of university botany and horticulture students at my nursery. The interest level, intelligent questions and desire to return blew me away. A second time a group of friends' children stopped by and although I was probably visibly trembling, I allowed them to cruise the main greenhouse - same reactions! I've located a Foundation that deals with educational projects in Thailand and hope to work through them
to put a tough little N. mirabilis in as many classrooms as possible. But that's just the start! As I recently wrote to someone, "Maybe the ears, whiskers and head, but I'm not letting the whole cat out of the bag just yet!"
NepNut, flora nepenthecea Forum, Oct 20, 2009
"I feel for a long term solution is
to educate the locals specially the younger generation."
NepNut, flora nepenthecea Forum, Oct 20, 2009
"Dave,
Yes, only by raising awareness and (working) to educate the general public we at least stand a chance to make that happen."
Well, the cat is now almost all the way out!”Botany in School” Program/”NEPS” (Nepenthes Education Program in Science 2010/2011/2012/2013…?
"National 'Botany in School' Website Homepage;
Botany in School;
“Hands-on” Learning;
“Cuttings Pacs" for Schools Program;
One Proud 11th Grade Class w/ their Plants and Training Certificates;
"Nep Physiology" Class;
"Nep Taxonomy" Textbook - Thai Language Version (Thanks Francois & Stew!);
"Neps Tissue Culture" Education Program;
“Learning Pacs” on Arrival at School;
Text for Thai Schools Program w/ “Quality Learning Foundation”
More Texts for Thai Schools Program;
“Neps Ed.” in the News - - "StampZ" (in the goggles) is now on a 4-year scholarship to Chulalongkorn University (Majoring in Botany!) based on his Nepenthes projects! He's one of 15+ such students!
"Student Leader" Presenters at BITEC National Science and Technology Exhibition;
“Sustainable Methods” Class;
The Future;
“Seeds for Students” Program Prep:
ShawninTland, flora nepenthecea Forum, Oct., 2009;
” I am hoping to put together an effort
to grow enormous quantities of genetically pure neps for re-introduction to various locations in Thailand. Hopefully, with the help of the many Thai CP growers, we can start a program which other countries can follow up on. Its not the best situation we can dream up, but perhaps it can make a difference in some species' existence.”
Results (Partial!);
N. suratensis Gene Bank Program;
N. mirabilis var mirabils Gene Bank Program (Partial!);
N. andamana Gene Bank Program (Partial!);
General Seedling program (Partial!);
And
ShawninTland, flora nepenthecea Forum, Oct., 2009;
“I also plan on
seeking an endorsement from the Royal Family. While hard for non-Thais to grasp, this is probably one of the most effective methods of keeping anything we reintroduce from ending up right back in Chutajak!”
NepNut, flora nepenthecea Forum, Oct 20, 2009 at 12:46pm:
“Shawn,
Thanks for pointing me to the right direction... ;D
I feel what you're doing is noble and for anything to be respected and taken seriously in Thailand, getting the involvement of Royal family is very crucial. You all will be surprise how influential the King have on Thais especially the rural Thai people and this is where most wild neps can still be found in Thailand.
However, how you're going to approach the Royal family... that I would like to see... ;D”“Palace Pac” 1
“Palace Pac” 2
“Palace Pac” Tag
Okay NepNut!...
Student Presentation to HRH Princess Sirindhorn at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy;
Thanks everybody, it’s been fun…and we’ve only just begun! ;>))))))
www.SaveNepenthes.org
