from a press release : "Borneo (Kalimantan)... is rich with a variety of indigenous orchid species... It has been estimated that 2500 to 3000... species grow in the forests of Borneo.
Borneo's orchids are... endangered, a result of the loss of natural habitat from fire, forest damage, and illegal logging. Increased exploitation of the forests of West Borneo, including gold mining and illegal burning, has led to the certain extinction of hundreds of orchid species. ... Economic factors, including illegal collecting and selling of wild orchids by domestic or foreign "orchid hunters", along with increasing consumer demand for orchids, also contribute to the endangerment of Borneo's native orchids. ... by concern for the demise of Borneo's native orchids, Chairani Siregar of the College of Agriculture at the University of Tanjungpura (Indonesia) undertook a 3-year study to locate and record endangered native orchid species in West Borneo. According to Siregar, "until recently, there were few records kept of the orchids native to West Borneo. For this reason, research was conducted to identify and create an inventory of all orchid species that exist (in West Borneo) before they and their habitats become extinct. ... Orchids found were identified and recorded by species. A total of 197 species of orchids were identified." Siregar is committed to cultivating all vulnerable and endangered species of orchids before they become extinct, adding that "local government intervention and participation in conservation, cultivation and marketing of orchids are necessary" for the popular flowers' survival. The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortScience [American Society for Horticultural Science] electronic journal web site: http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/43/2/554 " URL : http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/asfh-stw071708.php ******* Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
