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What is the Guide?

A resource for orchid societies and communities
NOT a fixed set of rules

What is its purpose?

Raise awareness in our community
Suggest positions and best practices for orchid Societies to consider
Encourage discussion about sustainable practices
Inform expectations and practices among existing and new growers

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BUILDING ETHICAL ORCHID COLLECTIONS AND SOCIETIES

The guide was developed by the IUCN Species Survival Commission Orchid Specialist Group - Global Trade Programme in collaboration with Orchid Societies from around the world.

IUCN SCC�Orchid?�Specialist�Group

The IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Group - Global Trade Programme is a science-based group of volunteers that provides expertise on the trade and sustainable use of orchids - one of the largest and most traded groups of plants globally.

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BUILDING ETHICAL ORCHID COLLECTIONS AND SOCIETIES

Societes from 13 countries contributed to the creation of this Guide:

▪ American Orchid Society, USA

▪ Asociación Guatemalteca De Orquideología, Guatemala

▪ Asociación Salvadoreña de Orquideología, El Salvador

▪ Associazione Orchidofili Centro Italia, Italy

▪ Botanical Society of China: Orchid Branch, China

▪ Hardy Orchid Society, UK

▪ Hong Kong Artistic Orchid Association, Hong Kong

▪ Indonesian Orchid Society of Batu and Malang Raya, Indonesia

▪ Lanka Native Orchid Conservationists, Sri Lanka

▪ Naples Orchid Society, USA

▪ Nepal Orchid Floriculture Group, Nepal

▪ Orchid Society of Eastern Himalaya, India

▪ Redland Professional Orchid Growers, USA

▪ Sarawak Orchid Society, Malaysia

▪ Susquehanna Orchid Society, USA

▪ Taiwan Orchid Growers Association, Taiwan

▪ The Orchid Society of Karnataka, India

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BUILDING ETHICAL ORCHID COLLECTIONS AND SOCIETIES

Orchid Societies and Associations differ in our activities, interests, collections, sourcing methods and environmental conditions differ, but we all share a common passion for orchids.

Wild orchid harvest remains a widespread, intense and targeted threat to many orchid species around the world.

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Constantia cipoensis�Found only in parts of Minas

Gerais, Brazil, this species now likely Critically Endangered.

Cypripedium calceolus

Illegal trade is a documented threat to its

survival in at least 25 countries, and now extinct in Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Examples of orchids threatened by ornamental trade

Guarianthe skinneri

Once common in Central America, now suffering severe population decline across the region and Endangered in Mexico.

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Angraecum longicalcar

Found only in Madagascar’s Central Highlands, this species has been collected almost to extinction for its

unusual shape and rarity. Now Critically Endangered.

Paphiopedilum canhii �Native to Vietnam, this species was only discovered in �2010, when wild plants emerged in illegal trade. It is

Critically Endangered, and likely extinct in the wild

Dendophylax lindenii

Found in a small number or wetlands in Florida and Cuba. Wild populations are estimated to have declined by 90%, with fewer than 1,000 mature individuals left in the wild.

Examples of orchids threatened by ornamental trade

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Where we share, learn, display, trade and enjoy orchids.

Help shape the rules of our groups and communities.

Educate and share best-practices.

Can shift social norms about collecting practices and conservation

The Role of Orchid Societies

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The plants we own

How we source our plants

Maximising the conservation value of collections

Promoting conservation

Guide Considers 4 Key Topics

BUILDING ETHICAL ORCHID COLLECTIONS AND SOCIETIES

The ideas proposed here are not rules, but suggestions and ideas for discussion among Societies and with your members

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Consider: The Plants We Own

BUILDING ETHICAL ORCHID COLLECTIONS AND SOCIETIES

The harvest, purchase, sale or exhibition of wild collected plants

The exhibition and awarding of plants from wild or uncertain origins

The posting on social media of wild collected plants or harvest from the wild.

Societies should take a public position that discourages:

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Consider: How We Source our Plants

BUILDING ETHICAL ORCHID COLLECTIONS AND SOCIETIES

Identifying a list of sustainable sources

Encouraging members to grow hybrids

Promoting plant trades/swaps within the Society

Facilitating group purchases from certified sustainable greenhouses.

Societies can encourage members to sustainably source plants by:

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Is the harvest legal?

Is it ethically acceptable?

Is it likely to be sustainable?

Who should be allowed to harvest?

Consider: How We Source our Plants

Where wild harvest is legal and socially acceptable, Societies should encourage members to consider:

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Consider: Maximising the Conservation Value of Collections

Most plants in private collections are of limited conservation value

BUT

Some collectors may have high conservation value plants of threatened species

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Identifying specific plants of conservation value

Propagating the threatened plants already in their collections.

Maximising long-term ex-situ conservation by recording data, developing management plans, and sharing plants with other growers and conservation institutions.

Sharing cuttings, seeds and plants with botanical gardens

Consider: Maximising the Conservation Value of Collections

The conservation value of our plants can be enhanced by:

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Publishing conservation articles in their newsletters

Inviting speakers to talk about conservation

Using this Guide to developing their own conservation policies

Establishing a Conservation Officer in the Society

Consider: Promoting Conservation

Societies can play a key role in increasing engagement and participation in conservation by:

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Is it legal?

What are best practices?

Who should be contacted for permissions?

If plants are collected for private collections, can the benefits be shared?

Are the plants native to their new site?

Some Societies participate in relocating plants from sites that are threatened. Societies and members should consider:

Consider: Promoting Conservation

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Hold discussions with Society members

Provide information to new Society members

Share content in society newsletters

How can societies use this resource?

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Discuss development of Society conservation policies�(ie. Code of Conduct, Guidelines, Best Practices)

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For more information on how to promote sustainable and ethical orchid collections:

Available in:

- English

- Spanish

- Chinese

- Portuguese

- Indonesian

BUILDING ETHICAL ORCHID COLLECTIONS AND SOCIETIES

Download at:�https://globalorchidtrade.wixsite.com/home/guide

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Cover slide with nice photos

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A Guide to Developing Ethical Orchid Collections and Societies

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Resource for Orchid Societies created by the IUCN Orchid Specialist Group & orchid growers from around the world

Shares ideas for how Societies can help promote best practices to foster sustainable collections, events and Societies.

www.globalorchidtrade.wixsite.com/home

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Often targets rare species
Often high volume
Many species are are long-lived and slow reproducing

Collecting orchids from the wild is still a leading threat to species survival:

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But Societies can help create change:

Center of our communities
Have rules for membership and events
Shape social norms
Educate members

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The Guide shares key topics, principles and positions that Societies can edit and adopt according to their context, on topics like:

1. THE PLANTS WE OWN

Suggested position on owning wild-collected plants
Suggested position on exhibiting and awarding plants of wild/uncertain origin
Suggested position on wild plants in social media

2. HOW WE SOURCE OUR PLANTS

Suggested position on sustainable sourcing
Suggested position on harvesting wild plants

3. MAXIMISING THE CONSERVATION VALUE OF PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Suggested position on propagating wild species
Suggested position on managing collections with plants of conservation value
Suggested position on sharing plants for conservation

4. PROMOTING CONSERVATION IN OUR SOCIETIES

Suggested position on conservation education and activities
Suggested position on relocation
Suggested position on enforcement and sanctions

BUILDING ETHICAL ORCHID COLLECTIONS AND SOCIETIES