magnolialover said: I understand it too, Joshua. Once something comes in, it is a lifetime of problems. Better to prevent for sure. But seed? Seems overall a very, very low risk import.
IMHO, the risk is very, very low!Rampant ignorance/or sheer incompetence of government agencies through out the world is a much larger threat. The preservation of biodiversity requires that all of us gardeneres around the world join in efforts to maintain the gene pool. In situ preservation(protected areas) is not enough. Part of the gene pool are cultivated varieties. These need gardeners. Public gardens grow just a minimal fraction of cultivated ornamentals. So by widening to all gardens the finnancing of preservation becomes feasable. Thus alternatively a reasonable easy way to move about seeds is a better way to share this global responsability. Only a very low proportion of species are known to be invasive. These can be listed separate and banned. I as a gardener am the least interested in introducing a new invader. I have enough weeds already to add a new one. I suspect I'm a much better guardian of my property than any government inspector around. Prohibitions kill the purpose, intelligent regulations enhance them.
Arturo
