EPISODE TEN: THE REDWOOD POACHERS

In this episode, we learn about people who rob our country’s most iconic tree. We also speak to a team of scientists who did something about the problem.  

Guests: 

Stephen Pires — associate professor in the department of criminology and criminal justice at Florida International University

Nerea Marteache — associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at California State University San Bernardino

Kirk Crippens — photographer, co-creator of the book Live Burls

Source material: 

The spatial pattern of redwood burl poaching and implications for prevention for Forest Policy and Economics

Choice Structuring Properties of Natural Resource Theft: An Examination of Redwood Burl Poaching for Deviant Behavior

Poachers Attack Beloved Elders of California, Its Redwoods by Patricia Leigh Brown

Redwood Burl search on eBay

Wood and other tree products on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.