Welcome to the NASC Conservation Committee web section! Here you will find answers to most, if not all, of your questions concerning what the Conservation Committee is doing to further the cause of the NASC, and what you can do to participate as a Conservation Committee member.
Please read the Conservation Committee Policies and Procedures below. This contains information about the Conservation Committee's policies and procedures, and will help familiarize your with how the committee goes about its business.
We hope this answers your initial questions about the NASC Conservation Committee. Please contact the Head of Conservation with any additional questions.
Policies and Procedures
ARTICLE I
POLICY
It is the policy of the North American Sarracenia Conservancy (NASC) Conservation Committee to legally collect and or rescue Sarracenia and companion plants* and seeds for the purposes of maintaining them in the NASC collection, and for hopeful reintroduction into their original habitat, where possible and authorized.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
To ensure that all collectors for the NASC follow set guidelines for plant and/or seed rescues/collections authorized or requested by the NASC Board of Directors (the Board).
ARTICLE III
PROCEDURE
Sarracenia (and collateral*) plants and/or seeds will be collected under the following conditions:
Section 3.01. Rescue.
Sarracenia which are in imminent danger of destruction due to human means (i.e., land development, herbicide spraying, etc.) will be collected and entered into the NASC Collection. This is deemed a "rescue." Under circumstances of "in danger of immediate destruction," as many plants will be collected as possible, to be placed into the NASC Collection for protection, propagation and future reintroduction whenever possible.
Section 3.02. Field Sample.
Sarracenia on public and private land will be sensitively collected only with permission from the landowner, and in order to gather genetic samples from specified locations. These specimens will be entered into the NASC Collection and database; this is deemed a "field sample." A field sample shall consist of plants and/or seed. The maximum number of plants and/or seed collected shall be one plant division per 50 plants at a site, with a maximum of nine divisions; or 100 seeds per 50 inflorescences, to a maximum of 1000 seeds. Field sampling from sites with less than 50 plants or inflorescences shall require additional approval from the Board.
Section 3.03. Who Can Collect.
a. All collections for the NASC will be by Board-approved members and/or approved representatives of the NASC only, hereafter called "NASC collector(s)."
b. All NASC policies and procedures must be followed with each collection. Appropriate documentation must be submitted to the Head of Conservation by NASC collector(s) prior to collecting, with the exception of "emergency" collections. In an emergency situation, Board approval must be obtained prior to collection, and the appropriate forms must be submitted to the Head of Conservation within three days of the collection.
c. All plants/rhizomes/seed collected become the property of the NASC; no collecting of plant material for personal use, trade or sale is permitted.
d. An approved member can collect for the NASC either by application or by direction (request by the NASC).
e. All plants collected for the NASC MUST have location data (as specific as possible); GPS location data is preferred whenever possible. Location information is considered confidential NASC information, and shall not be shared with anyone without express written consent of the NASC Board.
f. All Request to Collect forms, Permission forms and Waivers must be filled out and signed, and will be kept on file by the NASC Secretary.
g. Any person(s) collecting for the NASC does so at his/her own risk. The NASC assumes no responsibility for personal safety. Liability waivers must be signed by both collector(s) and landowner.
h. All NASC collectors must be respectful of the landowner and the property, and conduct themselves in a professional manner. Make as little impact (disturbance) to the property as possible; leave the property as you found it (no trash, debris, etc.).
Section 3.04. Collecting Preparation and Procedure.
a. Collecting by application: any persons wishing to collect plants during rescues or as field samples for the NASC must submit a Request to Collect, which will be logged and kept on file.
1) A Request to Collect shall be submitted to the NASC Board for approval. The Request to Collect must contain:
i. Location of collection
ii. Date collection will take place
iii. Name(s) of person(s) collecting
iv. Plant species to be collected
v. Total number of plants of each species at the site
vi. Number of plants to be collected2) The Board will review the Request to Collect, and a member of the Board will contact the requestor of acceptance or denial within three days.
3) Permission to Collect and Liability Waivers will be sent to the NASC collector. Forms must be turned in to the NASC Secretary prior to collecting.
b. By direct NASC Board request: a directive initiated by the NASC Board to an approved member to collect plants/plant material from a specified location with permission. Directed field collections may be planned.
1) The NASC Board will contact an approved NASC member and request a collection be taken at a specified site.
2) Permission to Collect and Liability Waivers will be sent to the NASC collector. Forms must be turned in to the NASC Secretary prior to collecting.
c. "Immediate Danger" Collections: a collection conducted on an emergency basis, due to the imminent destruction of a Sarracenia site.
1) Immediate danger collections are those in which the only way to assure the survival of the plants at the site is to collect them at that time.
2) Immediate danger collections shall be conducted by Board-approved NASC collector(s) only.
3) If possible, an attempt must be made to speak with someone at the site and contact the landowner or other designee prior to collection.
4) If the NASC collector is unable to contact the landowner, the collector shall attempt to obtain verbal permission from whomever is on-site and overseeing the development of the site.
5) Once verbal permission is obtained, the collector shall follow all directions of the on-site supervisor, in addition to NASC collection guidelines.
6) The collector shall provide photographic documentation of the need for immediate rescue if possible.
7) An Emergency Rescue Without Documentation form shall be completed and sent to the Head of Conservation within three days.
8) Attempts shall be made by the collector to contact the landowner and obtain retroactive Permission to Collect and Liability Waiver forms after the collection.
Section 3.05. How to Collect.
a. NASC collectors must obey all local, state and federal laws.
b. USE CAUTION: You are collecting at your own risk.
1) Wear clothing appropriate to the location to protect yourself from injury (heat, snakes, spiders, briars, barbed wire, water rocks, etc.).
2) Keep a cell phone with you if at all possible.
3) If you are collecting alone, make sure someone else knows where you are.
4) A good supply of drinking water and bug repellent is recommended.
5) Materials needed:
i. NASC paperwork documenting authorization from the NASC Board and landowner for the collection
ii. Plant tags
iii. Permanent markers
iv. Log Book / note pad
v. Shovel / spade
vi. Map(s)
vii. Baggies / envelopes
viii. Plastic Bags
ix. Box
x. Wet sphagnum moss or newspapers
xi. Camera and GPS unit strongly recommendedc. Every plant must be tagged in the field with its type and location data. Loop tags are the preferred method of initially tagging plants.
d. Field notes should be logged noting: surrounding habitat, condition of plants, soil, water sources, terrain, lighting, surrounding flora, and any other information pertinent to the location of the collected Sarracenia.
e. Photos of the collection area and surrounding habitat should be taken whenever possible. These notes will be included in the shipment of collected material.
f. NASC collectors should impact the property as little as possible.
1) Try not to damage surrounding flora.
2) Fill in holes whenever possible.
g. Keep collected plants cool and hydrated by packing rhizomes in wet sphagnum or newspaper.
h. Collected plants and field notes are to be shipped to the Head Grower.
1) Plants for shipment should be packed with roots and rhizomes wrapped in damp sphagnum when available, or alternatively in damp paper towels/newspapers, and then placed in plastic bags to prevent leakage of moisture in transit.
2) Shipping costs may be submitted to the NASC Treasurer for reimbursement.
i. Head Grower will receive plant samples, log them into the database, and distribute field collected material to appropriate regional growers.
* Companion plants are defined as any other imperiled/rare carnivorous plants (i.e., Dionaea muscipula, Drosera sp., Pinguicula sp., Utricularia sp., etc.) and/or rare wetland plants which will be recovered and donated by request to educational/scientific institutions and/or botanical gardens.