On the trail of cactus rustlers

Large barrel, prickly pear, and saguaro cacti are the most sought-after varieties for desert landscaping, called xeriscaping, which has taken off in cities such as Phoenix, Tucson, and Las Vegas.

Because of Arizona's strict laws regarding cactus harvesting, landscaping suppliers - who find it easier and faster to dig up full-grown plants in the wild than propagate them in nurseries - turn to unregulated Texas.

Between 1998 and 2001, for instance, nearly 100,000 succulents worth an estimated $3 million were shipped to Arizona from Texas.

Then there are those who pluck a cactus from a state or national park and don't realize that it's against the law, says Danny Contreras, a park ranger at the Franklin Mountains State Park near El Paso. While he has caught people driving off with truckloads of barrel cacti, yucca plants, and ocotillo trees, a more common occurrence is a solitary person digging up a single cactus for medicinal purposes or to plant in their garden.

These ignorant thieves can sometimes do even more damage because, in a sensitive environment like this, even a small change can have a dramatic effect, says Mr. Contreras. As in any environment, a whole host of animals rely on desert plants for food and shelter.

Even more shocking are the tales - who knows how tall - of cactophiles renting helicopters and rappelling into remote areas to collect rare species.

To serious collectors, the most prized plants are often found in Mexico and smuggled across the border in a purse or pocket, sometimes just in seed form. In recent years, Europe and Japan have become popular destinations for such cacti, many of which are so rare that all international trade in them is banned, says Robbins, who declined to name some of the species for fear of fueling interest in them. "That's how sensitive this issue is."

Environmentalists know that some of these species have made it out of Mexico because their seeds have appeared in trade journals and catalogues even before scientists have identified them.

Robbins's position is that existing laws against cactus collection are too complex and contradictory. He recommends that they be streamlined to allow legitimate nurseries to work toward sustainable production and exporting of cacti.

Back in his Houston nursery, Thomas is flipping through one of the trade journals and spots an ad for a dealer that reads: "We do not sell field-collected plants." Others sell such plants exclusively.

"Maybe I'm a little bit hypocritical because I will buy field-collected plants," says Thomas, pointing to a row of Ariocarpus, which are considered to be among the rarest of cacti. "But there has to be some mix. Some areas should definitely be off-limits. But other areas should be open to field collection by reputable dealers. It's just a matter of finding the right mix."

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