Spring, nature comes to life and the first flowers begin to appear in nature. “Primroses” is a generalized name for all plants that bloom early. These include snowdrops, crocuses, saffron, sleep-grass, anemones, primroses, mustard, and others – listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and protected by law.
Kiev. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – March 21, 2021 – Agriculture
Article 88-1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Ukraine provides for a fine of UAH 510 to 1,700 with confiscation of plants for the illegal collection and sale of primroses listed in the Red Book. For flower poaching within the territories and objects of the nature reserve fund is fined from 1700 to 3655 UAH.
In addition, for one specimen of illegally harvested plant, compensation for its destruction is provided: snowdrops – from 49 to 62 hryvnias, leeks – 62 hryvnias, saffron (crocuses), sleep-grass – from 37 to 62 hryvnias, depending on the species.
“Every year in early spring, more than 20 million primroses are destroyed for sale. That causes irreversible damage to the environment, “said Oleksandr Chistyakov, chairman of the National Ecological Council of Ukraine.” According to environmentalists, even home-grown snowdrops can not be sold. There is a single law for everyone, and the owners will pay compensation for the damage caused to nature on an equal footing with the offenders – from 37 to 62 hryvnias per flower”.
Why should primroses be preserved? Yes, because they can easily disappear from the face of the earth. Today they are a rarity. And once there were ordinary spring flowers… Until they became a commercial object of hunting.
Why can’t you collect primroses? Yes, because they do not have time to restore their numbers and may disappear. The life of primroses is very short – they bloom only a few weeks. In a short time, the plants need to collect maximum nutrients, ripen and scatter the seeds. But before the new primroses bloom, it must take two or three years, or even five. There is nothing accidental in nature, if the situation with snowdrops gradually worsens every year, the unique natural balance will be disturbed.
One of the most popular mistakes is that if you pluck snowdrops without a root, then next season the flower will be reborn. It does not. In fact, the function of recovery and reproduction in snowdrops is performed by the bulb. And if the snowdrop is broken during the flowering period, the bulb itself will no longer be able to accumulate nutrients, as a result, the whole plant dies.
It is also a misconception that some types of snowdrops can be picked because they are not all rare. But all three existing species of snowdrops are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
Although every year raids are carried out by law enforcement and environmental agencies to identify places of trade in primroses, still the most effective way to save the Red Book plants remains – the lack of demand. If no one buys primroses, endangered species of Ukraine will be preserved. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen outreach work among the population and toughen penalties for the collection and sale of these rare plants. And then we will be able to admire them in the wild.
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Source: Ukrgate
