OFA proposed that the government response statement for American ginseng recognize and permit wild-simulated or woods-grown cultivation of American ginseng. Mimicking wild ginseng through wild-simulated or woods-grown cultivation would enhance the recovery of wild American ginseng. We also noted that in many government response statements encourage “participation in citizen science data collection programs”. While individuals engaged in citizen science data collection are no doubt well-intentioned, we firmly believe that the Ministry’s encouragement must be tempered with clear cautions that most of the lands in southern Ontario are privately owned, and that anyone wanting to enter these lands, even to gather citizen science data to improve the recovery of endangered and threatened species must first obtain the permission of the owner or occupant of that land. We requested that the finalized government response statements include clear, unambiguous language emphasizing that persons endeavouring to collect citizen science date must first obtain the permission of the owner or occupant of that land.