Eat your orchid and have it too: a potentially new conservation formula for Chinese epiphytic medicinal orchids

Hong Liu,Zhong-Jian Liu,Yi-Bo Luo,Joel Heinen,Mahadev Bhat

doi:10.1007/s10531-014-0661-2

Hong Liu, Zhong-Jian Liu + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0661-2

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Journal: Biodiversity & Conservation	Publication Date: Mar 12, 2014
Citations: 62	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Florida International University

Abstract

About a quarter of Chinese wild orchid species are used in traditional medicine or as health food supplements. The market demand for some species, such as those in the epiphytic genus Dendrobium, has diminished many wild populations to local extinction or dangerously small numbers. Conservation of these heavily exploited orchids currently relies on a two-pronged approach: establishing nature reserves and encouraging massive commercial cultivation in artificial settings. We argue that these measures are not sufficient to restore or maintain healthy wild populations, and augmentation and reintroduction of these species in natural forests are needed. We argue for an unconventional reintroduction approach, in which populations planted in natural forests are allowed to be sustainably harvested (restoration-friendly cultivation). Because Dendrobium orchids are epiphytic, restoration-friendly cultivation of these species will not be at the expenses of other native plants. In addition, market premiums on wild-collected medicinal plants will generate incentives for farmers who participate in restoration-friendly cultivation to preserve natural forests. With proper policy and oversight, the restoration-friendly cultivation of medicinal Dendrobium orchids will facilitate the conservation of these threatened species, encourage protection of natural forests, and benefit marginalized rural communities. Adding this restoration-friendly cultivation into the current mix of conservation approaches has the potential to turn deeply-entrenched traditional uses of orchids from a conservation challenge to a conservation success.

Highlights

With an estimated 25,000 species, the Orchidaceae is among the most diverse flowering plant families known (Dixon et al 2003)
Its popularity started as tonic for traditional vocal artists to protect their voices and its use extended to cancer prevention and cure, as a boost to the immune system, and for other illnesses
It is well known that market demands for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have led to many high profile conservation problems, such as tiger, rhinoceroses, turtles, etc., poaching throughout Asia and other parts of the world (Lee et al 1998; Zhang et al 2008; Tilson and Nyhus 2010; Dongol and Heinen 2012)

Summary

Introduction

With an estimated 25,000 species, the Orchidaceae is among the most diverse flowering plant families known (Dixon et al 2003). Habitat destruction and over collection for horticulture are threats common to wild orchids worldwide (Dixon et al 2003). A much less known threat to orchids of China is the 2000-year tradition in ethnobotanical use of orchid species in Traditional Chinese Medicine About 350 species (25 %) of Chinese orchids are used in TMC, 97 of which are Chinese endemics (Chen and Luo 2003; Liu et al 2013). Many populations of these species have been exploited to local extirpation (Luo et al 2003).

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