AboutOrchids » Conservation

Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation

Marc — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:29:35 +0000

The Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation works to save plant and animal biodiversity. Ceiba was founded in 1997 to preserve and restore ecosystems in Central and South America. With offices in Madison, Wisconsin, and Quito, Ecuador, the non-profit group supports community-based projects, sponsors scientific research, and provides public education. Ceiba works with local communities to sustainably manage land and protect tropical forests. Current projects include the El Pahuma Orchid Reserve and the Lalo Loor Dry Forest Reserve. Both areas welcome visitors and volunteers. Ceiba also offers semester-length and summer courses which allow students to explore Ecuador’s dramatic natural beauty. Photos from their reserves include great shots of orchids, birds, and waterfalls. Lend your support to Ceiba’s essential work by learning more, donating, or volunteering.

AOS Moving to Coral Gables

Marc — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:55:29 +0000

The American Orchid Society (AOS) is moving to Coral Gables. For years, the AOS has had a home and orchid garden in Delray Beach, Florida. The Great Recession has dealt a blow to the society’s finances, so they need to sell their property and move. Fortunately, they’ve found a new home at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden just outside of Miami. “The missions of AOS and Fairchild Garden are perfectly aligned,” said Ron McHatton, the AOS’s chief operating officer. “With Fairchild’s international reputation, we have found a financially strong, solid strategic partner equally focused on horticulture, education and conservation.” The AOS will move its headquarters and its world-class orchid collection by March of next year. Many orchids will be displayed in a new conservatory opening at Fairchild in December 2012. Both groups will remain independent, and the AOS will continue to publish its monthly Orchids magazine.

Orchid Calendars

Marc — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:17:27 +0000

Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can have beautiful orchids all year with orchid wall calendars. The American Orchid Society’s 2012 calendar contains a year’s worth of mini orchids. The Orchid Conservation Alliance’s 2012 calendar (front cover pictured below) has photos and stories of a dozen of the world’s most endangered orchids. By adding these paper orchids to your collection, you’re supporting these essential conservation groups. Check their websites to purchase the calendars and other merchandise.

Bees Don’t Really Need Orchids

Marc — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:10:22 +0000

Orchids need bees more than bees need them. Scientists have long known that male orchid bees use orchid scents to court females. Many tropical species like Stanhopeas and Cycnoches rely on their perfumes to attract amorous male bees as pollinators. The males collect scent compounds using special brushes on their legs, and pollinate flowers in the process. Experts had believed that bees and orchids co-evolved, and each depended on the other, but it turns out that bees don’t really need orchids. New research from UC Berkeley shows that the bees appeared 12 million years before the orchids, and orchids provide only 10% of the fragrances which the bees collect. Instead, tree resins and fungi make up most of the males’ colognes. Rather than co-evolving, the orchids’ evolution follows the insects’ preferences.

With bee populations declining globally, this new info highlights risks for orchid extinctions. Researcher Santiago Ramirez notes “Many of these orchids don’t produce any other type of reward, such as nectar, that would attract other species of bee pollinators. If you lose one species of bee, you could lose three to four species of orchids.”

Help Save Native Orchids

Marc — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:01:57 +0000

The American Orchid Society (AOS) is helping the Nature Conservancy to restore an important piece of land. Myrtle Head is a 72 acre (29 hectare) remnant of native pine savanna near the North Carolina coast. It’s part of the Green Swamp, which is considered one of the top biodiversity hotspots in North America. The Venus Flytrap is its most famous resident, but the Green Swamp is also home to 18 native North American orchid species. These include several types of Epidendrums, Platantheras, Spiranthes, and Pogonias. For more info and lots of great orchid pictures from the Green Swamp, check out this article from the Orchid Conservation Coalition about habitat loss in the area.

Money raised by the AOS will go to restore native habitat, and give these local species a better foothold at Myrtle Head. To help, go to the AOS homepage and click on the “Myrtle Head Savanna” tab. Links to donate are at the bottom of that page. Any size contribution is appreciated.

Australian Orchid Foundation

Marc — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:28:10 +0000

Since 1976, the Australian Orchid Foundation has worked for orchid conservation, study, promotion, and education. Run by volunteers, it’s making tremendous progress to benefit native orchids. Australia is home to many fascinating and unusual species, like the Brilliant Sun Orchid, and also numerous varieties of Dendrobium, Pterostylis, and Sarcochilus. They all face threats from habitat destruction, climate change, and invasive plants and animals. To counter these dangers, the Australian Orchid Foundation funds research projects and runs a seed bank. They have an extensive list of publications for sale (note the prices are in Australian dollars.) You can support their work with an online donation (tax deductible in Australia.)

Saving Hawaii’s Rarest Orchids

Marc — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 04:36:52 +0000

The Honolulu Civil Beat offers two great stories about native Hawaiian orchids. The first article, “Hawaii’s Three Native Orchids,” is a quick read with great photos of the endangered species. It has an update on attempts to rescue the rarest variety from extinction, which I’ve blogged about before. So far, it’s good news on Kauai, where several Platanthera holochila plants have been successfully reintroduced, and another wild plant holds on. Both articles include a slideshow of the species’ unique mountain habitat on Kauai, the Alakai Swamp.

The second article, “Saving Hawaii’s Rarest Orchid,” explores this unique habitat in-depth. The Alakai Swamp is one of the rainiest places on earth, and it’s home to dwarf trees, unusual ferns and mosses, and many endangered plants, including that last known wild Platanthera on Kauai. The author treks through this alpine bog with scientists who are working hard to reestablish the species. With their efforts, the rare orchids might regain a foothold and begin the long journey away from the edge of extinction.

Invasion of the Orchid Snatchers

Marc — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:48:57 +0000

The story’s been told many times before, e.g. The Orchid Thief, but tragically, it never dies. The BBC has an update on the “Invasion of the orchid snatchers,” collectors who illegally take orchids from the wild. The article includes info about several orchids, including Phrag kovachii, the giant purple lady slipper discovered in Peru in 2001. That tale is one of many which illustrates the sad history of irresponsible orchid collectors, whose greed and selfishness endanger the survival of rare species. Dr. Richard Thomas of Traffic International, a group that monitors wildlife trade, explains “The loss of any one species is a tragedy – the world needs rich biological diversity to survive. Species have taken millennia to evolve, but can be lost in days.” Responsible growers should never take orchids from the wild, or buy wild-collected plants. Purchase only from reputable vendors to enjoy orchids without endangering them. If you’re not sure, ask.

Wild Orchid Summer

Marc — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:51:16 +0000

The UK is anticipating a wild orchid summer. With 50 fascinating British species, The Independent has blooming schedules and helpful info for finding orchids in the wild. The article has good photos, including shots of some European relations to the Epipactis and Orchis that I grow. The Wildlife Trusts, a conservation group, has more info online. Go to their Orchid Sites page to download “40 Places to See Orchids.” This colorful guide highlights nature reserves all over the UK.

Enjoy wild orchids if you find them, but take away only memories and photos. Never remove orchid species from the wild, or damage them in any way. It’s illegal, and it endangers the plants.

Center for Conservation of Amazonian Flora

Marc — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:16:02 +0000

The Center for Conservation of Amazonian Flora began 3 decades ago with one man’s dream and a little patch of land. In 1980, an Ecuadoran accountant named Omar Tello bought 15 acres (6 hectares) of pasture, and began to restore it to tropical rainforest. He had no formal schooling in horticulture or biology, but that little patch is now a thriving botanical garden. It has over 1200 native plant species, including 200 orchid species, like Cattleyas, Masdevallias, and Vanillas. Check out an incredible slideshow of some of these orchids. The garden also has become a vital home for Amazon birds, insects, and animals. Known by its Spanish acronym CERFA (Centro de Rescate de la Flora Amazónica,) it’s attracting support from volunteers and international conservation groups.

Tello is working with these groups to expand his little patch by the foothills of the Andes. CERFA is trying to buy a 62 acre (25 hectare) parcel next door, before a growing nearby town swallows it up. With the additional land, the garden would be big enough for larger animals like monkeys, sloths, and anteaters to move in. You can help by supporting the garden directly, or by donating to EcoMinga or other CERFA friends. Dollars, Pounds, and Euros go far in Ecuador, so even a small contribution can make a big difference to save Amazonian flora.