So they wouldn't be threatened in their native habitat if more collecting
were allowed? It's acceptable to strip all of the plants out of their
habitat as long as they are freely available to the horticultural trade? I
don't see any problem with giving countries the right to control their
natural resources (although the application of CITES to preserved flowers
and herbarium specimens is going a little far.) CITES regulates the
shipment of orchids, it's not a ban. If the originating country allows the
species to be sold then they can be shipped with the appropriate documents.
If the country doesn't allow them to be sold, there are about 20,000 other
species and 100,000+ hybrids you can grow instead.
-danny