Sloped Orchid Rescue Needs Support From All Parties

Sloped orchid. (PHOTO ANTARA/HO-Humas BRIN)

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said the rescue of shiny green leaf paphiopedilum (sloped orchids) from the genus Paphiopedilum requires the support of all parties, including the general public, orchid enthusiasts, to preserve, protect and conserve these plants.

"Preservation efforts should ideally receive support from various parties, including the general public or orchid enthusiasts," said the head of the Paphiopedilum Orchid research team at BRIN's Purwodadi Botanical Gardens Destario Metusala in a media briefing received in Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Thursday, January 20.

He explained that due to the rapid rate of degradation of Paphiopedilum habitat quality, research, and rescue activities needed to be accelerated.

It should be noted, he said, all Paphiopedilum orchid species originating from nature have been included in the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) category list appendix 1.

The orchid is not allowed to leave its country of origin except for non-commercial and research purposes, which must be accompanied by official licensing and very strict supervision from the government.

Based on the results of the study from the BRIN research team, he said, the best conservation strategy for the Paphiopedilum Orchid could not only be approached through the biological aspect.

"It is also very important to consider and involve social and economic aspects," he said.

Efforts to preserve pouch orchids can also be carried out in collaboration with orchid enthusiasts in Indonesia.

According to him, basic cultivation training and providing conservation insight for orchid enthusiasts around their habitat can be one of the priority programs in 2022.

Likewise, the creation of an orchid enthusiast database that can be accessed by researchers and academics, facilitating multi-stakeholder interactions in encouraging real activities, research, and preservation of the Paphiopedilum Orchid in various regions.

Some simple steps that can be taken by the public and orchid enthusiasts to support the preservation of the Paphiopedilum Orchid in Indonesia, among others, are the community directly deepening information about an orchid species before deciding to buy/maintain it.

The information includes the characteristics of orchid cultivation such as the height of their natural habitat, the need for wind circulation, the need for humidity, or the tolerance range for light intensity.

He said many Paphiopedilum species whose habitat is limited to highland areas above 1200 meters above sea level, so that maintenance in lowland locations with hot temperatures can increase the risk of orchid death.

In addition, the public can avoid buying natural plucked orchids that have not been maintained or have experienced a sufficient period of adaptation by the seller.

People can also prefer to buy Paphiopedilum orchids as a result of in vitro culture or what is often referred to as bottled seeds.

"Generally, orchid seeds from in vitro culture show better adaptability and growth than those obtained from natural extraction," he said.

The road map for the preservation of Paphiopedilum orchids in Indonesia is a long step that cannot be completed with only 1-2 years of research.

Therefore, these activities will continue to be carried out by opening the widest possible collaboration with parties within the country and from abroad, said Destario Metusala.