Re: Bambiraptor (comment on Brochu's comments)

[MKIRKALDY@aol.com]

Some of the folks who are arguing that the collection of fossils rather than 
the studying is the important part, might want to (re)read the Society of 
Vertebrate Paleontology's (http://www.vertpaleo.org) Statement of Ethics 
(http://www.vertpaleo.org/policy/ethics.html).  In order to join the Society, 
one has to sign the membership application, agreeing "to abide by the Society 
of Vertebrate Paleontology's Ethics Statement provided below."

I have reproduced that statement below, which reiterates point by point what 
Chris Brochu has been saying.

Mary
mkirkaldy@aol.com
____

By-Law on Ethics 
Article 9. Statement of Ethics. 

Several goals for the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology follow from its 
mission statement (Constitution Article 1): to discover, conserve, and 
protect vertebrate fossils and to foster the scientific, educational, and 
personal appreciation and understanding of them by amateur, student and 
professional paleontologists, as well as the general public. Fossil 
vertebrates are usually unique or rare, nonrenewable scientific and 
educational resources that, along with their accompanying contextual data, 
constitute part of our natural heritage. They provide data by which the 
history of vertebrate life on earth may be reconstructed and are one of the 
primary means of studying evolutionary patterns and processes as well as 
environmental change. 

It is the responsibility of vertebrate paleontologists to strive to ensure 
that vertebrate fossils are collected in a professional manner, which 
includes the detailed recording of pe rtinent contextual data (e.g. 
geographic, stratigraphic, sedimentologic, taphonomic). 

It is the responsibility of vertebrate paleontologists to assist government 
agencies in the development of management policies and regulations pertinent 
to the collection of vertebrate fossils, and to comply with those policies 
and regulations during and after collection. Necessary permits on all lands 
administered by federal, state, and local governments, whether domestic or 
foreign, must be obtained from the appropriate agency(ies) before fossil 
vertebrates are collected. Collecting fossils on private lands must only be 
done with the landowner's consent. 

Fossil vertebrate specimens should be prepared by, or under the supervision 
of, trained personnel. 

Scientifically significant fossil vertebrate specimens, along with ancillary 
data, should be curated and accessioned in the collections of repositories 
charged in perpetuity with con serving fossil vertebrates for scientific 
study and education (e.g. accredited museums, universities, colleges, and 
other educational institutions). 

Information about vertebrate fossils and their accompanying data should be 
disseminated expeditiously to both scientific community and interested 
general public. 

The barter, sale, or purchase of scientifically significant vertebrate 
fossils is not condoned unless it brings them into, or keeps them within, a 
public trust. Any other trade or commerce in scientifically significant 
vertebrate fossils is inconsistent with the foregoing, in that it deprives 
both the public and professionals of important specimens, which are part of 
our natural heritage.