Branch Out Exposing the illegal plant trade
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Jun 21, 2024 Join Jared Margulies, an assistant professor of political ecology and author of The Cactus Hunters, as he unveils the hidden world of illegal cactus and succulent trade. He discusses tense heists in Mexico and the shocking rise of poaching in California, driven by skyrocketing demand in South Korea. Margulies navigates the blurry lines between conservation and crime, revealing that sometimes, the smuggler and conservationist are one and the same. Dive into a complex tale where nature and greed clash in the most unexpected ways.
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CITES and Cacti
- The entire cactus family is listed under CITES, regulating international trade.
- Much of this trade is permitted, but some is banned, except for scientific research.
Robin Hood Conservationists
- Some individuals illegally trade cacti and succulents, believing they are benefiting conservation.
- They argue that their actions protect species by propagating them and meeting collector demand, acting as "Robin Hood" conservationists.
Dudleya Poaching
- Jared Margulies was in Mexico researching illegal cactus trade when news broke of Dudleyas being poached in California.
- This large-scale poaching differed from the individual thefts he'd observed, prompting him to investigate in California and South Korea.
