The Philippines is known to have many beautiful orchids.  Of the 1,000 or more species known, about 90% are endemic.

Because of the disturbances caused by man, the quantity and distribution of many orchid species have considerably decreased in recent years.  What appears to grow in abundance, like weeds before , have apparently been reduced to a very small number of plants.  Once may find an individual plant but have the greatest difficulty of locating another.  Left unchecked, these fast dwindling species are endangered and should be protected. 

Orchid Conservation Through Cultivation

Researches & Conservation - Rizal Tech University

Orchid Conservation Through Cultivation

Where orchids are restricted in distribution, they are vulnerable to both natural and man made changes in the environment.  Natural changes in the world climate over the past centuries have probably lead to the extinction of many species.  Where plant competition is present over a certain growing space, certain plants are invaded and eliminated by other plants.  Man made changes in the natural habitat, have accelerated on a massive scale.  Logging, road building, agriculture and colonization by expanding progressive population in the space previously occupied by wildlife, means total destruction.  The selective removal and collection of plants for trade still commonly occurs.  Many people have been taking advantage of making money from these species with horticultural merit.  The amount of innumerable plants lost by careless collecting, bad packing and damage done by the exporters, Quarantine and Wildlife personnel due to delays and lack of care in cleaning and preparing plants prior to their shipment, and finally the loss of a great number of plants due to improper cultivation, have become frightening issues.

Mankind and his activities are the basis of nearly all these threats.  We should realize that, we have the opportunity to alter the face of the world to our own advantage.  we can halt or slow down the process of extinction we have begun by adapting serious ;means of the conservation of our wildlife.  We can make sure that they will still be available for our descendants to enjoy.

Saving the Wildlife

While there are still several areas to protect, man should have a different outlook on the kind of environment he envisions and takes measures towards the promotion of the Conservation of Wildlife.

Nature reserves such as National Parks, should b set up to protect our best remaining habitats.  Plants from damaged and threatened habitats should be salvaged.  Rescue centers for salvaged areas where they can be used for propagation and research. 

Orchid growers need to become more closely involved with the conservation aims, particularly through orchid cultivation.  Many countries in the past have created a trend for the cultivation of orchids.  At first, the species were their interest until the production of colorful hybrids, as well as the rare and endangered species.

The development of orchid growing has been so successful that it has became an important minor industry in many countries such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States of America.

There is no doubt about the need for updated educational information on how the orchid species grow and can be propagated successfully in cultivation.  It is a sad fact, that the Philippines, being the source of many beautiful species that are used as parent stock by other countries, has remained to be importers and merchandizers of orchid products from other countries.

Published books, scientific and popular articles, films and other visual media, newsletters, symposiums and meetings can help our country's orchid conservation goals to develop our public awareness.

commercial growers must be aware of the demand for artificially propagated species.  Strong, young, nursery-grown plants will stand a better chance of adapting to various conditions of cultivations than the wild ones.  Most commercial growers around the world, hav began serious propagation of new and meritorious orchids.  They have learned that it does not take long, 2 to 3 years, to raise several thousands, even millions, of seedlings if the selected plants are sexually or asexually propagated.  And, their financial rewards would be even greater if they conserve the wildlife instead of exterminating it and use it to develop and conserve the wildlife instead of exterminating it and use it to develop the industry for the export of nursery propagated plants.

Where orchid societies flourish, they should play an important role in orchid conservation.  They can promote orchid conservation to their members and visitors by holding meetings with invited guest speakers to explain goals, methods and the reasons behind conservation.  Educational programs such as techniques on seeds and meristem propagation should be encouraged.  The promotion of the important role of our native species in today's trend in hybridization is equally important.  another important role of the society should be to help reintroduce plants into their own native protected habitats.

Finally, on July 1, 1975, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) was brought into effect with the Philippines as one of the participating members.  A new permit system was adapted with 96 participated members.  A new permit system was adapted with 96 participating signatory countries, for the trade of plants.  However, this is criticized by several people as a restriction on trade and individual freedom, when in fact, the stated purpose was to simply monitor or regulate trade in species that are either threatened or may potentially become threatened with extinction.

Although CITES has been strictly applied, it does not seem to prevent legal trafficking of endangered plants which are jungle collected and exported annually by the thousands.  Various countries have different interpretation of how CITES should be implemented.  Some countries have made its implementation far more complex than was originally intended.

However, CITES has its best effect since it has made many Third World countries more aware of the richness they possess and has made some of the introduce their own laws for the protection of their remaining wild species while encouraging the development of nurseries that will raise rare and superior orchid plants from seeds for trade.  The true purpose of orchid conservation is actually all about taking utmost care of the existing wildlife.  we are ultimately responsible for the survival of the natural beauty in the natural habitat and in cultivation.  It is only when we learn to cultivate orchids that we can succeed in the conservation goal.

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