I know for a fact that Indonesia has a conservation program for their native orchids created by their botanical gardens. There are a lot of issues associated with their lack of efficiency, however. One of them is that the botanical gardens are small. They have relatively little support. Poverty is rampant in the country, and orchid conservation is not top priority. The country is run differently in that bribery is not regulated like it is here in the United States, so anyone who has a desire to mow down a forest can do so if the price is right.
Some of those "idiots" don't have future plans, because they live moment to moment, and are not necessarily highly educated in formal institutions like most people in Europe and the US (for example). Schooling can cost money from the very get-go. At least from what I understand in Indo, the government doesn't necessarily set up a whole lot of public schools. You wanna send your little child to school, you gotta pay for it.
Of these "idiots" who are highly educated in a westernized educational institution, again, orchid conservation is not top priority.
This is a very complex situation, not a whole lot of things are "black and white".
It is a sad situation when I mentioned the forests of Sulawesi to one of my cousins and all he could do is laugh and imply that those forests are being mowed down so fast that will one day it may not be there anymore. What he literally did say was that a large proportion of those forests are gone.
---------- Post added at 05:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:55 PM ----------
On the other hand, over collection is also a problem. Some people make orchid collection as part of their living because of poverty and a lack of sufficient education.
If you notice, some of these people are farmers...
They have other "side interests" too. For example, some Chinese farmers not only deal in farming, but can also have their hands in orchid collecting and fossil hunting. Both can be lucrative side businesses in their own right.
But again, this is kind of an over simplified look into their lives, I'm sure there are many different variations and issues under the sun as there are stars in the sky.
---------- Post added at 05:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:08 PM ----------
Forgot to mention...
Back to the topic of Indonesia...
Some of the botanical gardens have wised up and have looked to the monetary support of tourists/tourism and private orchid collectors. They don't count on the government (who probably couldn't give a spit about orchid conservation).
To my knowledge, however, there still hasn't been a collaborative conservation effort between hobbyists/collectors and botanical gardens in Indo.
---------- Post added at 05:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:45 PM ----------
In regards to other Southeastern Asian countries...
Vietnam and Thailand are fast becoming one of the world's largest producers of orchids via in-vitro methods.
As far as the far eastern Asian countries are concerned...
There are also efforts from Holger Perner in China in the production of native Chinese Cypripediums and Cymbidiums via in-vitro methods.
For those interested in growing native Chinese Cypripediums from a reputable source in China, please support Dr. Holger Perner and his wife. His operation is called Hengduan Mountains Biotechnology Ltd. He and his wife had just recently made their first trip to the US selling native Chinese Cypripediums, Paphiopedilums, and Cymbidiums here in one of the Santa Barbara orchid shows.
Perner can also provide seed sowing services of native Chinese Cymbidiums, Paphiopedilums, and Cymbidiums upon request. He does sell his own flasking media as well.
__________________
Philip
Last edited by King_of_orchid_growing:); 12-07-2011 at 09:58 PM..
|