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Granted, my views reflect the thoughts of a professional biologist but, while I think renewal of support and interest in the Botanical Center is an excellent idea, I see little to recommend our building a faux rain forest in Iowa.

With minimal changes the Des Moines Botanical Center could house many additional types of rainforest flora. With minimal cost, competent ecologists and botanists in the several colleges and universities in central Iowa could provide excellent education opportunities for children (and others) to learn and appreciate the basic information underlying all of our environmental issues in Iowa’s natural habitats.

To revive support and interest in the Botanical Center would require cooperation and management by several interested agencies, but it is a worthwhile effort. On the other hand, I do not believe a new rain forest development project anywhere in Iowa offers the wealth of opportunities to Iowans that could be achieved with a well-managed and well-supported Botanical Center in Des Moines.

Donald M. Huffman
Pella