Redfern Natural History Productions is raising money for the permanent protection and ongoing management of carnivorous plant habitats to secure a brighter future for the plants which feature in the books we distribute. A very healthy proportion of the profits from all sales taken through this website is donated directly to Meadowview Biological Station (http://www.pitcherplant.org) to support the Joseph Pines Preserve - a 78 acre reserve in Virginia, USA aimed at the restoration and preservation of Virginia’s imperiled longleaf pine-pitcher plant ecosystem.

The preservation of carnivorous plant habitat, but especially pitcher plant wetlands in the United States is of critical importance for a number of reasons. Not only are the wetlands of the South Eastern USA remarkably diverse habitats for carnivorous plants and non-carnivorous plants as well as a wide range of endangered birds, animals and insects but also they occur exclusively in North America.

Unfortunately, wetland areas in the South Eastern USA are among the most heavily impacted habitats of the American continents and unlike so many continuing environmental problems which we frequently hear of, the destruction has for the most part already happened. The overwhelming majority of pitcher plant wetlands has already been destroyed, especially so in the south eastern USA where just 1 – 2% of the original wetland habitats remains today. Indeed even many of the remaining fragmented patches continue to be destroyed - during the production of Pitcher Plants of the Americas five major sites which were visited in 2002 have since been wiped out – many of the plants which feature in this new book now no longer exist.
 

The rate of destruction is altogether not sustainable and further species of carnivorous plants as well as a wide range of other plants and animals will soon become  increasingly threatened with the real risk of extinction in the wild. Indeed severa; North American carnivorous plants already face this risk and are listed on C.I.T.E.S. Appendix One.

The loss is especially great because the wetland habitats of the South Eastern USA formed and evolved through unique biogeographical processes over the course of tens of thousands of years. Aside from the massive ecological value of these areas, they also represent some of the most beautiful and unusual natural areas of the North American Continent. Yet destruction of wetlands continues..... habitats such as the following are continually cleared and destroyed......

..... and replaced with agricultural land and development sites.

Drainage of Habitat - Image generously provided by

Jerry McDonald (Used with Permission)
 

Site Clearance - Image generously provided by

Jerry McDonald (Used with Permission)

Only by establishing large, permanent preserves can we seriously hope to maintain these habitats and protect the natural diversity of the plants and animals which they contain. This is the clear objective of Meadowview's Joseph Pines Preserve and the goal which money raised by Redfern Natural History Productions supports - so if you like our products, please support our fundraising efforts so that we may jointly secure a brighter future for these remarkable plants and their unique habitats!
 

Meadowview Biological Station has generously provided the following images which depict The Joseph Pines Preserve which funds from all Redfern sales go to help;

Meadowview's Joseph Pines Preserve - Image Used With Permission

Meadowview's Joseph Pines Preserve - Image Used With Permission
 

Please check back soon for updates on the progress of

our conservation fundraising efforts