Hello, My previous post regarding the incineration of wild orchid plants in the forest fires in Southeast Asia resulted in my receiving several messages on the subject. It appears that many others have been concerned about this as well. Since timber extraction and clearing of forests for agricultural or other needs are activities taking place in many countries each year, I wonder if it is now time to address the problem and try to develop protocols and facilities to try to rescue orchid plants which are endangered by development programmes ? I would like to offer my services to any company or organisation in the Asean region or elsewhere which would like to develop such protocols and facilities for the identification and conservation of wild orchid plants in land earmarked for felling and clearing. I cannot say at the present time how long this may take but no doubt this can be worked out once an initial assessment is done. Perhaps I should say a few words about myself in this connection. My interest in orchids dates back to 1955 when I had pointed out to me an orchid plant in flower on a family property in Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka). I have maintained my interest since then despite many intervening years overseas during studies at the Universities of Cambridge (for a B.A.(Hons)) and Edinburgh (for a Ph.D.) and on work. I resumed my interest in Sri Lanka's indigenous orchids since my return to the country several years ago. (My employment in Sri Lanka has included several years with a major pharmaceutical multi- national company and several with the Central Environmental Authority of Sri Lanka.) With respect to my interest in Sri Lanka's orchids, my publications include the following papers in international journals: 1. " Wild orchids of Sri Lanka ", JOURNAL OF THE ORCHID SOCIETY OF INDIA vol. 4(1990)107-111, 2. " Lanka's orchids under threat ", MALAYAN ORCHID REVIEW vol. 26(1992)23-27, and 3. " Some sanctuaries for Sri Lanka's wild orchids ", ORCHIDS AUSTRALIA vol. 9(October 1997)34-38. I appreciate that there are many in Asean countries and elsewhere who have a lifetime's experience with orchids but it is likely that their current commitments would probably not allow them to spend their full time on such a task. I should also note that it would be good if information about the progress of such a project is reported in international environmental publications with a view to helping the setting up and direction of orchid conservation programmes in other countries, as well. This would also generate considerable goodwill for the company or organisation which undertakes such a programme. Such a programme could also bring monetary benefits to the increasingly important orchid hybridising and growing industries in the countries concerned by the conservation of desirable species and strains (perhaps including those hitherto unknown). With best regards, Rohan H. Wickramasinghe, Institute for Tropical Environmental Studies, 41 Flower Road, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka (e-mail: rohan@ites.ac.lk)
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