Conservation

Conservation of orchid species and their habitats has been a cornerstone of the AOS since our founding in 1921. Through its members and staff, the Society plays a major role in the formulation of world orchid conservation opinion and policies. By working to save orchids and their habitats here and abroad, we preserve their beauty and important role in the planet's ecosystem.

 

The AOS Conservation Committee serves as a communication point for conservation-related news and information. Its members are often those who are called upon for expertise in matters relating to orchid conservation. The AOS's publications are in the forefront of communicating conservation-related news, particularly on CITES issues as well as import and export-related items.  AOS Staff and Conservation Committee members have also played an increasingly important role as liaison with United States federal agencies, such as USDA and USFWS, in communicating the opinions of the orchid community.

 

The American Orchid Society grants awards for non-commercial conservation projects, as well as experimental projects of fundamental and applied research on orchids. The purpose of these grants is to advance the conservation and preservation of orchids in every aspect. Conservation projects supported have been in areas as diverse as CITES publication funding, a conservation program for an orchid reserve, establishment of a secretariat for the IUCN/OSG, and other informational resources.

 

AOS Conservation Policy

 

Preservation and protection of orchids and their habitats throughout the world are among the primary goals of the AOS. The AOS encourages and engages in worthwhile activities to these ends, including but not limited to:

 

• Propagation and cultivation of orchid species to maintain a diverse gene pool, especially for endangered species.
• Formalization of procedures to ensure the protection and maintenance of orchid species in private and research collections where neglect endangers the plants.
• Development and dissemination of proper cultural information for species to ensure their survival and propagation.
• Support and development of national parks and nature preserves worldwide.
• Management of orchid habitats, endangered or not.
 What you can do to help

 

Conservation is one of today’s most widely discussed topics and one of the keystones of the American Orchid Society's mission. Each member of the AOS can play a part in the global conservation of orchids. You can start by making sure the orchid species you have in your collection are well-grown and not inadvertently killed by neglect or ignorance. This is amazingly simple. It is known as ex situ conservation and it is defined as the preservation of species outside of their natural range. In other words, by growing your orchid species well, you are contributing in a real way to a conservation effort. After all, an increase in better-grown species equates to more cultivated plants being available, and to a lessened demand for wild-collected plants. Every division you share of your species plants, every selfed or sibbed seed capsule, lowers the number of plants that must be collected from their increasingly decimated habitats. Orchid societies, both local and national, play an important part in this. We encourage our members to network effectively, so the plants collectively held by their group survive as a whole.

 

While individuals need to be encouraged to support larger issues with their votes, their checkbooks and their membership in advocacy groups such as the American Orchid Society, they should also do what they can at local levels to preserve species. Ex situ conservation is, in a real sense, where species preservation must start.

 

The Importance of Supporting Orchid Conservation

Why should we conserve orchids?

This is a question frequently asked for many wild things when they are pitted against land development and other human-induced pressures. Why should we care if a particular species becomes extinct?

 

For many orchids, their pollinators remain unidentified. If an orchid species becomes extinct, is its pollinator so specialized that it will become extinct as well? And if so, what else does that pollinator do besides pollinate the now-extinct orchid, and how will other species be affected? If the pollinator is an insect, does its larva perform some other function different from that of the adult? Is the larva the primary food of some other species -- which performs another unique function? These questions may represent a hypothetical and over-simplified view of the effects of extinction, but the steady loss of species does affect the global ecosystem in ways not always evident until years later.

 

The biological, material and cultural value of biological diversity conservation for present and future generations is an important reason for conserving it today. Diversity is a potential source for immense untapped material wealth in the form of food, Human cultures co-evolve with their environment, and biological diversity can be important for cultural identity throughout the world. The natural environment provides for many of the inspirational, aesthetic, spiritual and educational needs of people, of all cultures now and in the future.

 

It is our responsibility to preserve the unique place of orchids in their habitats for our children and for our planet. Do you or your local orchid society have a favorite native orchid? Are you aware of the destruction of a favorite orchid's habitat abroad? Then, support AOS conservation efforts! Individuals, societies and corporations are preserving a legacy of orchid knowledge by supporting the research and conservation programs of the AOS. All levels of support are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Please consider supporting our nonprofit organization's research and conservation programs.

 

AOS Conservation Principles

The American Orchid Society (AOS) supports the preservation and maintenance, as well as the appropriate management, of native orchid habitats. The AOS also supports the establishment and maintenance of artificial orchid habitats for the ex-situ conservation, preservation and propagation of orchid species, as well as hybrids of historical horticultural significance.

 

Timely achievement of these objectives may be impaired by the mandated trade policies and practices used by the various signatory nations, as well as the internal environmental policies and practices of the various sovereign nations. The AOS believes that such policies and practices can be made more uniform, as well as facilitated by the use of the latest scientific and technical information and data as part of a continuing evolutionary process.

 

One of the most urgent actions would separate the regulation of trade in artificially propagated species and hybrids from that of wild-collected plants. The AOS believes that sufficient information and technology exist to provide all national regulatory agencies with the ability to quickly and efficiently discern artificially propagated from wild-collected plants.

 

CITES was intended to regulate and monitor international trade of wild species that are or may become threatened with extinction because of trade. CITES did not originally realistically provide for trade in artificial hybrids. Since the first orchid hybrid was flowered in 1856, more than 100,000 hybrids have been registered, more than three times the accepted number of species. The limited resources available for orchid conservation are being diverted to less productive avenues by the inclusion of orchid hybrids within the scope of current trade policies and practices.

 

One of the objectives of orchid conservation is to increase the availability of endangered or threatened orchid species by artificial propagation. The AOS believes that a spirit of facilitation is essential in international trade policies and practices to encourage commerce in artificially propagated orchid plants. The AOS also believes that, for the purpose of orchid species regulation, international and national trade policies and practices regarding the conservation of flora and fauna should:

 

• ensure that all exporting parties understand the precise definition of "artificially propagated plants" as used by the CITES Secretariat;
• include effective training, technology and information availability to enable inspectors to rapidly discern artificially propagated from wild-collected plants, and
• make every possible effort to ease the regulatory burden on artificially propagated orchid plants.

 

Natural orchid species and their natural habitats

The AOS is an advocate of the preservation, maintenance and appropriate management of orchid habitats as a primary goal of international and national conservation policies and practices. Consistent with this objective, the AOS endorses the artificial propagation of orchid species from seed and discourages the collection of orchid species from their natural habitats. However, where appropriate and practical, the AOS supports the rescue and relocation of orchid species from habitats that are endangered or threatened.

 

In the furtherance of this goal, the AOS supports, and encourages others to support, the following activities:
• full dissemination of the latest scientific information and data on orchid species to all affected parties;
• preservation and maintenance of natural orchid habitats whether such habitats are endangered or not;
• strategies for the in-situ propagation of native orchid species, as well as ex-situ strategies of artificial propagation, including the sharing of the seed of orchid species between growers and botanical gardens, as well as seed banking; and when the preservation of the natural orchid habitats is not feasible, the rescue and relocation of orchid species.

The identification of any particular orchid species as threatened or endangered is a complex undertaking that must rely on the latest scientific and technical information and data. Moreover, such classification must contain sufficient flexibility to reflect the evolution of our scientific and technical understanding. Therefore, the AOS supports the compilation of information and data on the prevalence of orchids and their culture in natural and artificial habitats. The AOS also supports the dissemination of this information and data among all affected parties, including governmental officials. Such exchange of information and data is essential if the implementation of international trade policies is to be consistent with broad orchid conservation goals and objectives.

 

Artificially propagated orchid species and cultivated populations of orchid species

In addition to the preservation and maintenance, as well as the management where necessary, of natural orchid habitats, the AOS encourages the successful culture of orchid species in public and private collections. The AOS believes that this objective is, to an extent, being achieved through artificial propagation and subsequent distribution of orchid species in greater numbers. Further efforts are needed, however.
While the AOS does not advocate specific modifications in international and national trade policies and practices, the AOS does support:
• those policies and practices that encourage through artificial propagation the preservation of a broad and diverse gene pool of orchid genera and species;

• national and international trade practices which would tend to facilitate trade in artificially propagated orchid plants; and
• the increased availability in the trade of artificially propagated orchid species, under the same terms and conditions as artificially propagated orchid hybrids.
The AOS believes that the increased availability of artificially propagated orchid species in commerce will help mitigate threats posed to native habitats by collecting.

 

Scientific and technical information

Orchid conservation activities are aided by the availability of the latest information and data concerning orchid conservation policies and practices, as well as cultural information. The AOS believes that the identification of specific orchid habitats that are endangered is a chief concern. The AOS believes that greater public awareness of the specific governmental agencies responsible for managing and administering natural orchid habitats is a necessity. Further, encouraging the enforcement of applicable laws and regulations is one of its top priorities.

 

The AOS encourages broader dissemination to affected parties of information on international and national orchid conservation policies and practices. The AOS also believes that participation in the compilation and dissemination of information relating to applicable orchid conservation and trade laws and regulations will benefit its membership directly, as well as aid the public awareness of conservation. The AOS supports, and encourages its members and affiliated societies to support, the full dissemination of the latest scientific information and data on orchid species to all affected parties.

 

The AOS believes further efforts are needed to establish an international data bank of orchid species. Such a databank would not only aid in the identification of those species that may or may not be endangered, the information made available as a result of this effort might help to better distinguish orchid hybrids from species.

 

Orchid Conservation initiatives

The AOS encourages greater participation by its members and Affiliated Societies in regional, national and international forums and discussions regarding orchid conservation issues. In the furtherance of orchid conservation objectives, the AOS supports and encourages its members and Affiliated Societies to:

• establish orchid conservation committees to further these, as well as the AOS’s, conservation objectives.
• support efforts to preserve, maintain and manage natural orchid habitats.
• support the establishment and maintenance of public collections of orchid species and historically significant orchid hybrids.
• identify important public and private collections of orchid species and historically significant orchid hybrids that may be endangered or threatened.

Once identified, the AOS encourages its affiliated members and societies to undertake those actions necessary to preserve, maintain and manage natural orchid habitats, as well as public and private collections of orchid species.

 

In the furtherance of these objectives, the AOS supports cooperative arrangements among regional, national and international organizations that share the AOS’s orchid conservation objectives. In particular, the AOS supports the exchange of information among domestic and foreign members and affiliated societies about orchid conservation activities.

 

Conclusion and recommendations

The orchid family displays a diversity matched by few other plant families. Such important diversity can only be protected by actions at the local level. By providing accurate information in a timely fashion, the AOS encourages its members to be vigilant and active in the conservation of sensitive habitat.

 

In summary, the AOS believes that international and national orchid conservation policies and practices should encourage the preservation, maintenance and, where appropriate, management of orchid species in their natural habitats. Similarly, such policies and practices should encourage the artificial propagation and cultivation of such species for distribution in trade and commerce. The objective of such policies and practices should be to assure a diverse genetic pool of orchids in both natural habitats and under artificial cultivation.

 

In the furtherance of this objective, the implementation of current international and national policies and practices should be made more uniform, with the recognition of the importance of trade in artificially propagated plants.
The AOS also supports the rationalization of international and national orchid conservation and trade policies and practices to reflect the evolution of scientific and technical information and data on orchid species.

 

Finally, the AOS believes that a reconciliation of the Appendices by the Conference of the Parties to encourage trade in artificially propagated orchid species is both needed and merited. In addition, the AOS believes that such appendices should reflect those specific orchid species and genera that are truly "threatened" or "endangered" based on the most accurate available scientific and technical information and data.

 

Conservation Awards

To recognize and reward individuals, groups and Affiliated Societies for outstanding work in the field of orchid conservation, the AOS sponsors an annual Conservation Recognition Award. The Conservation Committee can award up to two first prizes annually of US$500 each. At least one of the prizes is designated to recognize efforts benefiting the conservation of orchid species native to Canada, the United States or Mexico. One of the prizes need have no geographical limitations. An additional two runner-up awards of US$250 each may be given if judged appropriate. A previously awarded project is not excluded from consideration. Self-nominations are not accepted. Winners and their projects will be featured in Orchids magazine.

 

Philip Keenan Award

This prestigious award is intended to recognize the work of an individual in the study or preservation of native orchids of North America north of Mexico. Applicants may be students, amateurs or professionals actively engaged in the study or conservation of native orchids. Prior achievements in these fields will also be considered. Individuals may apply on their own behalf or on that of another they feel is worthy of consideration.

 

Nominations

Application for these prestigious awards should include a nomination statement, a short biography of the proposed recipient when it concerns an individual's efforts, or a short history of the nominated group, organization or Affiliated Society. A concise description (no more than two pages) of the project or endeavor and its effectiveness must be submitted along with the nomination, as well as no more than three letters of confirmation from individuals who are familiar with the work. The contests' period begin January 1 each year. Nominations and supporting materials for these prizes should be submitted not later than September 1 to the  Awards Registrar, American Orchid Society, 16700 AOS Lane, Delray Beach, FL 33446-4351. Nominations are reviewed by members of the Conservation Committee at their Fall meeting, and thereafter a recommendation is directed to the Trustees.

 

CITES

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international treaty designed to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES became effective in 1975, and was conceived in the spirit of international cooperation to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation. Countries that have acceded to the treaty, known as Parties, are legally bound by the treaty and must implement its provisions through national legislation, but may also have their own stricter domestic laws.

 

In the CITES context, “trade” is not defined by whether it is commercial or non-commercial, but rather is merely defined as the movement of specimens across international borders. Today, CITES accords varying degrees of protection to more than 30,000 species of animals and plants, whether traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.

 

All orchids are covered by CITES and therefore require CITES permits for transport between countries. This requirement applies to large commercial shipments as well as small quantities of plants for personal use. Exemptions exist for some types of orchids, but it is best to check with the national CITES authorities of both the country of export and the country of import to determine whether your orchids qualify for an exemption, and whether the exemption is recognized by both the importing and exporting countries. CITES permits are not required for any activity conducted within a country, although national laws may apply, especially for native species.

 

U.S. Plants Database

The National Plant Data Center (NPDC) acquires, develops, improves and disseminates plant information to support the USDA’s National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other efforts to improve the ecological health of the land. The NPDC is responsible for a wonderful resource - their PLANTS database focuses on the vascular and nonvascular plants of the United States and its territories, including orchids. The database includes checklists, species abstracts, distribution maps, crop information, plant symbols, plant growth data, references and other plant information. PLANTS Database.

 

Orchid Collection Emergency Care Card

Emergencies such as power outages, equipment failure, glazing breakage, etc. often occur when the grower is absent and the collection is in the care of a non-orchidist friend or neighbor.  Do these people know who to contact for assistance in such emergencies?

 

We owe it to our plants - common or rare - to provide for their care under these circumstances.  Posting contact information in a prominent place in the growing area will assure that the caretaker has the necessary information for getting immediate help.  The survival of your collection may depend on it!