Plant Heist - Succulent Smuggling Documentary (SXSW Official selection)
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- čas přidán 7. 02. 2022
- Thousands of Succulents, millions of dollars. a real world theft of highly prized plants that are worth BIG money.
In northern California, a Game Warden uncovers an illicit network of succulent poachers after mysterious packages containing native plants are reported, and with the help of citizens, biologists, and authorities, he races against time to halt the destruction before permanent damage is inflicted on the land.
Winner of Emerald award Coronado Film Festival 2021
✳️A note from the Filmmakers
It all began with reading a news article in The New Yorker about Officer Freeling's big break. Being a succulent and plant enthusiast, I was intrigued by the story's bizarre and interesting nature, so I decided to track down Officer Freeling and give him a call to ask if he’d talk on camera. After waiting for approval from his department heads, we finally got the green light.
I set out with my sister and our friend Georgia to Mendocino. After the initial interview on the bluff overlooking the crime scene on that foggy day, we knew as we drove back to Oakland that we had the makings of a fascinating documentary subject. So we put a plan into action to track down all the key people necessary to flesh out the whole picture.
Through calling in favors for filmmaking gear, self-funding, and grassroots fundraising, we cobbled together the necessary funds to execute our vision. We are incredibly proud of what we achieved with very little money. Please share the video; the more people who know that plant poaching is a real issue, the better!
⚠️UPDATE: Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 223 by Assembly member Chris Ward (D - San Diego) into law, making it unlawful to sell, or possess with the intent to sell, any Dudleya illegally taken from its natural habitat on state lands. AB 223 makes it unlawful to sell or possess with the intent to sell any Dudleya illegally taken from its natural habitat and establishes minimum penalties of $5,000 per plant for the first offense, and $40,000 per plant for any subsequent offenses. - Krátké a kreslené filmy
I love that this guy put on his ghillie suit to catch these plant poachers.
One of the really unfortunate things about taking Dudleyas from the wild is that many are very site specific and don't transplant well, if at all.
and theyre super easy and fast to grow from seed. none of this makes sense
@@Don-Kedik Or the pups they produce or even a leaf produces pups.
someone give Pat Freeling a medal.
This issue needs more coverage, so, thank you for making and producing this video
Thank you and agreed!
I’m going to help spread this amongst like minded individuals.
Situations like this really are concerning.
If the plants are gone what will California have left.
Loved the last part where volunteers replanted some of the confiscated succulents.
These plants are part of our ecological treasure that belong to us all. Which is why foreigners taking them is such a slap in the face.
Fully Agree!
Whether they’re a foreigner or from Columbus, OH, it is wrong.
What sucks about a straight replanting after confiscation is that it takes expensive testing to make sure that you aren't introducing pathogens foreign to that soil ecosystem when doing so. Once you rip a poached and further transported plant out of its endemic soil you have effed everything up.
Drove from Palm springs to san Francisco with my late wife back in 2015. The succulents we saw on the cliffs off California 1 were stunning.
This reminds me of Tulip Mania. Plants have a hidden life that most of us aren’t aware of.
Some good news in east Asia. Most Dudleyas are safe now. Because they have been widely propagated by Chinese farmers. Farmers produce them in the way of producing vegetables~~ Farmers have figured out how to sow them and made them grow 10x than in nature. Only one greenhouse can produce hundreds of thousands of them. So the price slumped to only as the 1% from $300 in 2017 to $4 in 2023 for a typical cutie. So there is no financial reward for poaching. But there is still some concerns about hunting for "new unseen species"
It's VERY easy to propagate echevaria species, because EACH LEAF can become a new plant with propagation. I hate echevaria but women here love them. I'm more a cactus guy, have about 400, mainly trichocereus.
@@OffGridInvestorit’s easy to propagate from a leaf but it takes forever. And ever. And forever.
Slower than an echeveria?
theyre super easy from seed. glad theyre growing them from seed now.
Are you trying to justify their behavior?
Best start cultivating those succulents for trade. Jobs created, money earned and helping these rare species to thrive. A win win story unfolding.
Ain’t no middle class nobody purchasing a $700 plant.
I love you Pat Freeling. Good man. It's a huge problem here in Texas too. In our small community in Austin, we embrace widespread public shaming of plant poaching. In these days of social media it seems to have a good impact.
Thanks for this! " 🌵 Only take photos! and don't buy poached plants 🦊 "
100% agree! Wild plant photos are super fun to get!
@@SiblingRivalry772 Agreed! Sorry, I read that wrong at first 😂
I hated learning this when it was at its peak. My friends and I actually took a couple of trips to the coast to see if we could catch anyone.
Kudos to our Fish and Game AKA Fish and Wildlife Wardens, they do s great job as it is, but in these cases they really hit hard and fast. Another kudos to the justice system for handing down severe fines and jail time. We only have one ecosystem which is under tremendous threat already, we need to do all we can to help it from further damage
These are so easy to grow from seed. I propagate them in my kitchen in Dollar Tree seedling trays.
Agreed!
The succulent industry in the past 20 years has become massive. MASSIVE.
Fantastic film, thank you for sharing the story.
$200. for a succulent? They could have just as easily bought them legally online for a small fraction of the cost. Or did I miss something?
At the time of these thefts you could not buy any Dudleya Farinosa other than those stolen from the wild. Thankfully you can now find Dudleya Farinosa for sale from many nurseries in California including Home Depot and ACE thanks to a concerted effort to flood the market from commercial horticulturist, this effort did take time to achieve. Unfortunately wild plant poaching continues to be a problem with other species.
where do you think all the "rare" succulents come from? They are poached from the locations they are native and cultivated for sale.
This has happened with several varieties of plants over decades. For whatever reason, succulents have become a massive problem.
Just grow from seeds. Jeez
I noticed one that was struggling and almost dead on the edge of a parking lot near Bodega Bay a few years ago. It looked like it had been stepped on or dug up. I moved it over a few feet to where another patch was growing well and replanted it. When I went back to the same area the following year there were a lot more growing well in the same area but then I went back 2 years later and there weren’t very many at all. I assumed they just died off but now I wonder if someone came through a poached a bunch. We try to go to that area every year or 2 and I never knew poaching them was a thing. It’s very unfortunate.
Thank you to everyone involved in this situation. Amazing people. The laws really don't mean anything unless they are enforced, and we need more people to care about our plant species all over the globe.
I “like” how the lady in the thumbnail covering her face is literally know to the world now. Ooopsie!
Great high quality video, very unfortunate to see this type of behavior.
Glad you enjoyed it
It's heartwarming to know over 1000 poached plants were replanted, but isn't that a miniscule amount considering the several thousands which were poached?
could you imagine a world where police had the same heart and soul as a wildlife ranger?
Like the difference between police and fire fighters.
I was very sad to see two women stealing chalk dudleyas while walking in our local regional park. I told them what they were doing was illegal.
🤫
Did you try calling the police
It’s worth a try.
If that's all you did, that's not enough you should have called the police
People can be so awful
Grow your own!!!! Jesus Christ!
too true, i grow succulents and once you have a leaf its so easy to get a healthy renewable crop. dont get some people who feel the need to steal ones from the wild
I wondered the same thing. Fast money, some of those plants took 30 years to grow.
@@michelleburkholder2547 no they don’t. They reproduce like welfare recipients.
Made me happy to see Brett at the Arboretum for a second! Great Documentary!
3:55
Good to know that in California you are subject to search just for using a rental. Same way out of state plates are treated when they see a shade of tint too dark.
Thank you for your great work.
The sad part is how lenient the penalties are. This is why this is on-going. You threaten someone running a major ring with a 10k fine and 2 years jail as the max offense...that's nothing. They had more than 10k in plants. 2 years is worth the risk to many of these people. If this was say 5 - 7 years in jail, now they will question it.
this is such an excellent and well made documentary! I've made similar ones on poached plants from south america. would love to see more from this channel!
Glad you liked the doc👍
This is old but the rare ones are still sought after.
Similarly, the population of Astrophytum asterias (cactus) is considered vulnerable. Gardeners should be aware of what they buy and its status in the wild. Some of these plants are slow growing and will not replenish itself at the rate it’s being removed.
This was very interesting, who knew those succulents were creating a demand in the black market. This needs more exposure.
Glad you think so. Agreed!
I mention this all the time when people go to these sales overseas and they say you have to get there before they open because they have these great plants . And I say yes, and they were stolen from ecosystems and these are the best plants and you have to protect these plants from destroying our ecology our ecosystem is being raped in pillaged and if you’re a plant person and you see these people talking online, ask them how they feel about this that way at least you’ll be getting word out to the other plant people who are watching this channel toosee their great and wonderful hundreds of plants that they have that you know are so big that they had to have been stolen because it would take so long to have grown them that size
Great story.
Thanks Erik!
Keep up the good work rangers.
Just if they realized they could have propagated these plants from very little
I remember seeing a doc about china planting metal stems,metal round flowers. They were being spray painted green ,along freeways and its been a while but there were also artificial fields, i bet this has something to do with robbing americas foliage.
Very much support stopping this… but the tactics described in the beginning of the video are questionable _at best._ Rental vehicles are not a crime, do not constitute probable cause, and should not be viewed as immediately “suspicious”.
When benign things like that are being seen as potentially criminal, it harms every single one of us just as much, if not more, than the smuggling of the plants and stealing of our natural treasures. I don’t want our rights stolen either… and that’s what’s happening when simple things like having a prepaid dumb phone or a rental car are seen by Law enforcement as “criminal behavior”. They make up the law as they go a lot of times, and arguably “small”assumptions like that absolutely erode our rights… usually little by little and then all at once.
The lady, Guanrong Rivera, was charged with grand theft, vandalism, conspiracy and filing a false document-good, but as the DA stated, there’s no point in having environmental laws if you’re not enforcing them. So, was Guanrong charged with anything else, environment-related? "Damage to the environment" or "deforestation" or something? I get that it’s "grand theft" against the planet, in a sense, but I just wondered if she was charged with anything specific.
She wasn't charged with anything beyond what you see in the film, but check out the update below the video in the description. Since that case, California has given the law a lot more "teeth," and I was told that this film played a direct role in getting that bill signed into law. We thought that was pretty awesome!
Well that's just sad, I'm a new plantmom and the best part about it is watching them grow everyday, waiting to see any new change. I can't imagine what would be the satisfying about a stolen succulent
I agree! It is a strange phenomena, happens with giant Saguaro cactus's too out of Arizona
Wow, I wondered about succulents, cactus landscaping plants, especially the big ones, the valuable ones, years ago I wondered where they were stolen from.
Do NOT think that plants are ONLY poached in the wild or by foreigners. Thieves will take them from YOUR FRONT YARD! A friend of mine has seen her own NEIGHBORS taking or even destroying plants in her yard. When confronted some had the audacity to claim it wasn't her property! This is in an upscale neighborhood where they clearly have the means to go buy one. Just WOW. 😳
I grow San Pedro cacti and some of the cuts can go fo thousands of dollars! At least wth San Pedro you can eat it and get high.
Indeed! big fan of San Pedro!
Soooooooo much more to San Pedro than getting high
I'm more a cactus guy. Everything I get is from local nurseries. I have about 400 and A FEW are some of the most insane things you've seen but I often only have one of the real unique ones. Hate echevaria and anything that looks like it. Only have 2.
To each his own I guess 😊. I love the echeveria, but I also am fond of cactus and cacti. Succulents are true survivors.
That's so stupid it's so easy to propagate them from the neighbors you don't need to buy any succulents!
$10,000 fine at $500/plant is basically 20 plants. Slap on the wrist.
who the hell can sell a tiny plant for $500
@@Don-Kedikmore like 10 dollars I bet
@@JasperKlijndijk probably. you can buy seed grown Dudleyas in garden centers for about that much
This is messed up I collect sucllents I buy from mountain crest gardens and live in South Carolina
You can steal whatever you want in SF, not get charged, and be let out but if you go inti the wilderness to take some plants they throw the book at you.
Right or wrong, anything you buy in store is replaceable. Our native ecosystems are not.
Erosion is sad and especially how long they last.
At least their willing to work for it ..
Awsome story
So… the bright-light at the post office ruined everyone’s cover, hahaha. “Shhhh. Something very valuable,” he says as he “pointed towards the ocean”. 🙄 Good going! 👏🏽 jk
This makes me so angry. But I’m glad there are laws being enforced.
Spoke too soon. Punishment in place
So what if I come with a cute little pot and take one?
You can't expect people to come here and not try to help there family's back home. You want to protect the habitat? first you need to claim it.
🤦♂️ “help their family”. That’s not what’s happening there.
fines and prison isnt enough imo
Money is the root of all evil.
Diversity is our strength everyone.
Can you grow them in a green house
Horrible. And it indeed is a worldwide issue. What happens to recovered plants? It's definitely didnt sound like anything was being returned.
Also, just casually whipping out a ghillie suit is hilarious.
Recovered plants do get returned by botanist and students at UC Santa Cruz as well as by CNPS (california native plant society) volunteers.
Döp doo do döp
Aww he doesn't think that's right , well it was done to them by our gov what's the difference no one wants to share anymore
This guys been doing a job for a decade and a half guarding wildlife and fish and had no idea of his local fauna and flora! I wouldn’t be boasting mate, you’d not get the job without some basic knowledge of the things you’re supposed to be protecting! He’s proper patting himself for failing to do his job for 13 yrs!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I'd like to clarify that Officer Freeling is actually very good at his job and one of the few people in his department who noticed people were stealing native plants. His primary role as a game warden is to protect wildlife and fish, not necessarily to know every plant species, as he isn't a botanist. The fact that he identified and acted on this issue shows his dedication and vigilance. I disagree that he was failing at his job for 13 years; on the contrary, he is an excellent example of what a game warden should be.
Source considered. Comment disregarded....
I’m angry with this. Are these horrible criminals in our country illegally?? Greedy
people steal cactus also.
Lowest of the low
Enviornmental Laws are very much like Gun Laws. We have many, and when enforced they work. Sadly, rather than proactively enforce existing laws, Leadership wastes valuable time debating on the need for new laws and creating more restrictions. Almost seems like they really aren't concerned, they're simply wasting time and paying lip service to matters as a form of Job Security, while finding more ways to inconvenience the average law abiding Citizen. Jail has an impact, fines are a joke... fines are punishment to the Working Class and the Poor, not to career criminals and those who finance their schemes. Like fining people for water use.
Kidnapping? Really
Just make a legal farm
biggesr issue is how westrn world is looting Congo for minerals !!! #congo
Definitely a HUGE issue right now.
Still think America’s free
Good thing there aren't any other crime issues in CA so they can focus on plants.
Crazy to see that not only british are interested in other countries treasures.
Wong Rong
SAD
Great video! now everyone knows how valuable they are.. great job
sad that they go the poaching route bc they're quite easy to start growing by seed from what I hear. I've seen them sell starting from $4-15 here in the LA area.
Lmao, let’s never bring awareness to any issue then 🤡
Recently, Dudleya Farinosa in California has experienced a significant decline in poaching cases, thanks to several factors, including the implementation of a new law, AB 223, which has substantially increased fines for poaching to $40,000. Additionally, the widespread cultivation and hybridization of new plants, spearheaded by concerned botanists and horticulturists, have flooded the market with easily grown varieties of Dudleya farinosa. As a result, these plants are now available for purchase at many nurseries in California, including Home Depot. We were also informed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) that this film played an integral role in the enactment of AB 223.
All the fckin fentanyl and nothing said anything in this country.... You're worry about plants?
There are plenty of great documentaries investigating the opioid crisis. There is room for many issues to be explored through the documentary medium. Environmental crime should be covered too.
Not their Territory D a,
My question is what happened to the thousands of succulents that where intercepted why where there just 1000 replanted? The people confiscating are the people who are reselling the plants! They where not destroyed.
Also, the wardens were not reselling them.
while i understand the poaching aspect, where do you think the plants from lowes and home depot originally came from
Plants from big box nurseries are not obtained through people poaching massive amounts of plants from the wild. Instead, these plants are cultivated in large-scale wholesale plant nurseries and then supplied to retailers like HD and Lowe's. While it is accurate to say that all plants originally came from the wild, there is an ethical and environmentally friendly approach to this process. Unfortunately, this method requires time and patience to propagate and grow the plants. On the contrary, poachers are focused on making significant profits quickly, often at the expense of the environment. This approach is notably selfish and unsustainable.
Bro what 🤨🧐 Loews and Home Depot don’t buy poached plants 😂 the sheer volume of plants they sell would not be sustainable or cost efficient with poached plants. It might surprise you but large companies cultivate and sell succulents, cactus and other plants you see a big box stores 😂
Parks do squat for biodiversity. Its too late..mirco plastics in every living thing.
Im totally for wildlife preservation, but how about all the 3rd world countries and the oceans America uses for resources like oil, gold and other natural resources. America needs to look at themselves as well. Hold everyone accountable. We stripped their homes, even our own. California no longer has black bears. Lets adrees the issue America.
quit trying to blame America for YOUR 3rd World problems.
So tell me again how pulling wild plants on the side of the road not in a park is illegal? Yet people can hunt ginsing, mushrooms etc
Commercially selling those products have regulations....
Get off your ass and look it up!
Ginseng poaching in Appalachia is a problem.
No justice on stolen land. This doc is ignorance personified.
This park ranger claiming a "rental vehicle plate" as "suspicious" on the California Coast in a hugely traversed Park, lmao.
Good work, "inspector"!
It's a damned shame the documentary makers chose to include this chode, really invalidates their purpose.
Who would have thought, immigrants, having no respect for our country and its laws…. Who would’ve seen that coming?
Yeah and they entered the country the right way. Who would’ve thought legal immigrants would have no respect for America? 🤣
Wall 2025
is that your takeaway from this video? Sad
I understand some plants are extremely valuable but this particular one is so boring looking, I don’t see the appeal. This is super generic and simple looking.
Plant collectors want the thrill of next new and rare plant. The appeal is secondary.
If it’s variegated they are very costly
it's not boring looking they have incredible hummingbird pollinated flowers
@@Don-Kedik I’m just not into them.
WHATEVER
Oh My God this is all about the State Government wanting Taxes
I can't believe they spend tax payer dollars on this. Definitely net negative in all aspects.
There illegal immigrants
South Korea… almost certainly the legal kind of immigration or a visa. Seems like your assumption is coming from a place of bigotry… but not surprising with your username. Maybe tomorrow you should try getting ready for the library. 🤷♂️
@OddWoz they are immigrants doing illegal things. And your assumption is based off your bigotry for civil war? I guess? This country was built on the graves of the native population. We are the native population now. All immigration regardless of race is a direct threat to the people who are already here. Also with the illegal opening of the borders and lawless nature of current imagration policies every immigrant coming in is illegal. Regardless of what the government says
You have been protected from my rebuttal. Enjoy your safe space pal
@@Readyforcivilwar lmfao. I guess that’s your go-to whenever anyone corrects you.
@@OddWoz you are free to say whatever you like in your safe space