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• Actively pursue avenues through other governmental agencies, such as the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, by which the propagation of medicinal plants can be encouraged, 

 thereby lessening the demand on uild populations. 



• Recognize that destruction of habitats, and ecosystems have, by far, the greatest impact on 

 native populations. 



• Recognize that loss of habitat and species diversity can have long-term, potentially 

 irreversible negative consequences that may not be recognized for decades. 



• That strengthening of the Endangered Species Act has benefits and merits that extend far 

 beyond the potential of what these species can contribute to human existence. 



We are verv' concerned with the loss of habitat that is leading to the demise of many 

 plant species. As everyone is aware, we are losing our prairies, wetlands, grass lands and old- 

 growth ecosystems at an ever-increasing pace. However, most people do not realize that as 

 these ecosystems are destroyed the potential for discovenng new benefits of the medicinal 

 plants that inhabit the area is also lost. We want to thank this Committee for its work in this 

 area and w ill support these efforts in whatever way we can. 



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