BRIN: 95 Percent Of Indonesian Orchids Haven't Received IUCN Conservation Status

Illustration. Vanda Tricolor Orchid plants cultivated in Gumuk Hamlet, Tamansari, Boyolali, Central Java, Wednesday (24/7/2024). (ANTARA/Fathur Rochman)

JAKARTA - Researcher from the Main Biosystematics Research Center and BRIN Evolution Destario Metusala said that as many as 95 percent of orchid species originating from Indonesia have not been evaluated for conservation status by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. “ There is still 95 percent or about 3,800 Indonesian orchid species that have not been evaluated for conservation status. And it is our job to assess the status of the IUCN,” Destario said in a webinar in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, September 5. He detailed that the total Indonesian orchid species that have been evaluated by the IUCN Red List are only 230 species. In fact, Indonesia has a total of 4,100 to 4,200 orchid species. "Therefore, this amount of proportion is very small because only 5 percent has been evaluated," said Destario. Based on the IUCN Red List as of August 2024, 18 species of orchids from Indonesia are in the endangered category (kenangered) out of a total of 230 species evaluated by the IUCN. While in the world there are 497 species of orchids that are threatened with extinction. Of the total 230 species evaluated by IUCN, the endangered species of orchids from Indonesia (vulnerable) were recorded as 10 species and almost threatened with extinction (near threatened) of 5 species. Meanwhile, there are 178 species of Indonesian orchids that need not worry about extinction. Destario said, basically orchids can grow on various continents. However, there are some parts of the world that orchids cannot grow, namely the north pole and south pole areas. Referring to various sources, Destario maps the highest number of species diversity from various countries. Apparently, he said, Indonesia ranks first with the highest number of orchid species diversity in the world with approximately 4,100 to 4,200 species. If ordered by 5 countries with the highest number of orchids, Destario said that the world's orchid diversity pattern is centered into two main hotspots, namely the Tropicals of Southeast Asia and the tropical region of South America.

“ An orchid type from Indonesia itself has a variety of diverse shapes, sizes and color patterns. It has a very diverse form of morphology, which reflects its evolution diversity, ” Destario said.