26 Wild Orchid Species Lack Conservation Plans
Research by an FIU professor shows that many critically endangered orchids in Southeast Asia have no active protection, leaving them vulnerable to trade and breeding pressures.
By Kaito Sokolov ·
Corybas puniceus is a small orchid found only in Southeast Asia, but it faces a growing threat. The species is currently classified as critically endangered. It is one of 26 endangered orchid species identified in a new study that have no conservation measures in place.
Hong Liu, an Earth and Environment professor at Florida International University, led the research. Her team examined the gaps in orchid conservation across the region. Liu works in the Institute of Environment’s International Center for Tropical Botany at The Kampong. The study aims to identify what is working and what is missing to protect these plants.
The research found that protecting orchids requires more than just preserving their natural forests. It also involves tracking the origin of plants in the marketplace. Researchers must monitor online sales and understand how wild orchids are used in breeding programs. The livelihoods of people who depend on these plants are also a key factor.
A major issue is the practice known as orchid laundering. Some orchids collected from the wild are later labeled as artificially propagated. This makes it difficult to trace the plant back to its original forest. The uncertainty can follow the orchid across borders, complicating international trade.
Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, orchids make up a majority of the listed protected plants. However, a permit does not always verify whether an orchid was wild-collected or grown in a nursery. Inspectors often struggle to distinguish between the two. Online sales add another layer of difficulty, as it is hard to know the origin of species sold on the internet.
The commercial trade also impacts orchids through breeding programs. Different species can be crossed using parent plants that are already critically endangered. The original orchid may disappear from the marketplace, but its genetic material continues through its offspring. This carries a connection to threatened wild species into future generations of cultivated plants.
Liu suggests that the orchid industry can help solve the problem. Countries with modern technology to produce orchids could share those methods across the region. This would help establish nurseries and increase the supply of artificially propagated plants. A larger supply of cultivated orchids could reduce pressure on wild populations. Sustainable facilities could also teach harvesters practices that reduce the impact of collecting while allowing them to make a living.
Liu noted that plants often receive less public attention than animals, a tendency scientists call plant blindness. This disparity shows up in research funding and penalties for breaking conservation laws. Despite these challenges, Liu said the region is doing a fantastic job but still has a lot of work to do. For Corybas puniceus, the next step is putting protections in place for a species that has so far slipped through the cracks.
