Myanmar Native Orchids and Conservation
Tropical Asia which includes Myanmar still possess forests rich in
biodiversity. Myanmar is one of the member countries of the ASEAN and it is
geographically located between 9' 58' and 28'31' north latitude and between
92'9' and 101' 1' east longitude in South East Asia. In Myanmar, the mountain
ranges stretch from north to south. All the mountain ranges are covered with
forests where many Myanmar Native Orchids with great diversity exist as a gift
from mother nature due to varied climatic conditions, diverse habitats and wide
altitudinal variations. Forest Department of Myanmar officially recorded 841
orchid species. According to the World Bank Technical paper newsletter 193,
Myanmar constitutes within Indo-Malay realms which contains three ecological
sub regions and representing diverse physical features and biodiversity, the
richest biological reservoirs in Asia. Orchid hunters and traders from foreign
countries have been interested in Myanmar Native Orchid species since 19th
century,. Starting from that period, thousands of Myanmar Native Orchids have
been brought out of the country and such as inappropriate practice might lead
to the extinction of the priceless orchids of Myanmar. Today, Myanmar Native
Orchid species face some conservation threats, such as logging, shifting
cultivation, collection for trade and medicinal raw materials, agricultural and
crop plantations and urban development. The population numbers of some Myanmar
Native Orchid (both epiphytes and terrestrials) are dramatically declined due
to over collection for border trade to neighboring countries. After gaining
Independence in 1948, Government listed all Myanmar Native Orchids as one of
the forest products. One of the forest laws was enacted to control the orchid
collection. According to the law, all Myanmar Native Orchid species are
considered as the State properties. Nobody can gather and sell native orchids
except for research and educational purposes In Myanmar, two type of orchid
conservation are overviewed; (a) In-situ conservation (b) Ex-situ conservation
All Myanmar Native Orchids are conserved as in-situ conservation in all the
protected forest area which include all national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries. Ex-situ conservation means "conservation of biological
diversity outside their original habitats, such as living collection in
gardens, nurseries, seed banks, pollen banks and laboratories". National
Kandawgyi Gardens under Forest Department, Government and private nurseries,
orchid laboratories of Government, Universities and private sector and
commercial and amateur collection play important role in Ex-situ conservation
for Native Orchids. Native Orchids have been propagated and conserved by means
of ovule, seed and tissue culture techniques in the orchid research laboratories
of Ministry of Forest, Ministry of Agriculture and irrigation, Botany
Departments of Universities under Ministry of Education and some private orchid
enthusiasts. According to the resolution made at the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES) in
1973, orchids which are almost extinct have been strictly prohibited from
collecting and marketing. The above-mentioned orchids have been categorized as
CITES Appendix (1). Myanmar native orchids: Dendrobium cruentum, Paphiopedilum
wardii and Renanthera imschootiana are listed in CITES Appendix (1). Other
orchids have been mentioned in the list in CITES Appendix (2) and they can be
sold legally only with the permission of the government authority concerned. By
examining the above list, the worth, significance and emergency conservation of
our Myanmar Native Orchids can be noted. Public awareness and education program
on Native Orchid Conservation should be strengthened. Research and Development
(R&D) are essential tasks to conserve Myanmar Native Orchid Conservation
before many of our valuable orchids remain unrecorded. The author is pleased to
share his knowledge on Myanmar Native Orchids with orchid and nature lovers.
Myanmar Native Orchids and Myanmar Native Orchids Vol 2 booklets have been
published in 2004 and 2005. The author is constantly doing his research on
Myanmar Native Orchids for continuous publication.
Dr.Saw Lwin
Myanmar Flower Association
Myanmar Native Orchids and Conservation
Tropical Asia which includes Myanmar still possess forests rich in
biodiversity. Myanmar is one of the member countries of the ASEAN and it is
geographically located between 9' 58' and 28'31' north latitude and between
92'9' and 101' 1' east longitude in South East Asia. In Myanmar, the mountain
ranges stretch from north to south. All the mountain ranges are covered with
forests where many Myanmar Native Orchids with great diversity exist as a gift
from mother nature due to varied climatic conditions, diverse habitats and wide
altitudinal variations. Forest Department of Myanmar officially recorded 841
orchid species. According to the World Bank Technical paper newsletter 193,
Myanmar constitutes within Indo-Malay realms which contains three ecological
sub regions and representing diverse physical features and biodiversity, the
richest biological reservoirs in Asia. Orchid hunters and traders from foreign
countries have been interested in Myanmar Native Orchid species since 19th
century,. Starting from that period, thousands of Myanmar Native Orchids have
been brought out of the country and such as inappropriate practice might lead
to the extinction of the priceless orchids of Myanmar. Today, Myanmar Native
Orchid species face some conservation threats, such as logging, shifting
cultivation, collection for trade and medicinal raw materials, agricultural and
crop plantations and urban development. The population numbers of some Myanmar
Native Orchid (both epiphytes and terrestrials) are dramatically declined due
to over collection for border trade to neighboring countries. After gaining
Independence in 1948, Government listed all Myanmar Native Orchids as one of
the forest products. One of the forest laws was enacted to control the orchid
collection. According to the law, all Myanmar Native Orchid species are
considered as the State properties. Nobody can gather and sell native orchids
except for research and educational purposes In Myanmar, two type of orchid
conservation are overviewed; (a) In-situ conservation (b) Ex-situ conservation
All Myanmar Native Orchids are conserved as in-situ conservation in all the
protected forest area which include all national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries. Ex-situ conservation means "conservation of biological
diversity outside their original habitats, such as living collection in
gardens, nurseries, seed banks, pollen banks and laboratories". National
Kandawgyi Gardens under Forest Department, Government and private nurseries,
orchid laboratories of Government, Universities and private sector and
commercial and amateur collection play important role in Ex-situ conservation
for Native Orchids. Native Orchids have been propagated and conserved by means
of ovule, seed and tissue culture techniques in the orchid research laboratories
of Ministry of Forest, Ministry of Agriculture and irrigation, Botany
Departments of Universities under Ministry of Education and some private orchid
enthusiasts. According to the resolution made at the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES) in
1973, orchids which are almost extinct have been strictly prohibited from
collecting and marketing. The above-mentioned orchids have been categorized as
CITES Appendix (1). Myanmar native orchids: Dendrobium cruentum, Paphiopedilum
wardii and Renanthera imschootiana are listed in CITES Appendix (1). Other
orchids have been mentioned in the list in CITES Appendix (2) and they can be
sold legally only with the permission of the government authority concerned. By
examining the above list, the worth, significance and emergency conservation of
our Myanmar Native Orchids can be noted. Public awareness and education program
on Native Orchid Conservation should be strengthened. Research and Development
(R&D) are essential tasks to conserve Myanmar Native Orchid Conservation
before many of our valuable orchids remain unrecorded. The author is pleased to
share his knowledge on Myanmar Native Orchids with orchid and nature lovers.
Myanmar Native Orchids and Myanmar Native Orchids Vol 2 booklets have been
published in 2004 and 2005. The author is constantly doing his research on
Myanmar Native Orchids for continuous publication.
Dr.Saw Lwin
Myanmar Flower Association
Myanmar Flower Association
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