Why do we protect orchids?
Orchids are increasingly threatened by the destruction of their habitat and excessive harvesting. Excessive harvesting is particularly serious in the case of the species with commercial importance and can cause the extinction of a species in nature only a few years after its discovery.
The evolution of the orchids gave place to complexes strategies of pollination. These strategies, however, are easily disturbed by the destruction of the habitat or the excessive harvesting, making them good indicators of overall environmental health. The conservation of the orchids and the maintenance of adequate populations of these species contribute to the protection of considerable other species. Because of their popularity, the orchids are emblematic species which can be used to promote the conservation of key habitats for the wild species.
The conservation of orchids follows two principal axes:
The conservation pool
Thanks to this parental stock, we can preserve plants by species, and, when possible, produce seeds which will allow for laboratory production of great quantities of plants.
In vitro reproduction
The second axis is research on the reproduction and the production in laboratory of the species, or In-vitro reproduction.
Knowing how to reproduce a species In-vitro allows for production in great quantity, which makes it possible to decrease the commercial pressure on this plant and, sometimes, to repopulate the forest.
Recommendations on the conduits provide the framework for the conservation of the species of CITES (International Convention off Trade and Endengered Species, or, convention of Washington).
We have a contract of collaboration with the National University of Laos with regard to In-vitro research and reproduction.
We have agreed to transfer 5% of our benefit at the laboratory of botany in order to take part in the various actions:
- To identify and classify as many of the present species in Laos.
- To study the habitats and the distribution of different species.
- To Create a pool of conservation- An orchid collection
- To create tools for the identification of the speciesprojet ORCHIS).
- To collect information on the illegal exploitation of orchids.
- To initiate and support legal commercial (but sustainable) production
- To promote knowledge on orchids and the danger of their disappearance.
Currently, the laboratory of botany carries out tests with 30 different species. We have had very good results with 20 species, so the percentage for success of the others in production has drastically increased.
