Guest guest Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 Conservatory on Gunung Ledang to save rare orchids - New Straits Times*13 Jun 2006* <news ------------------------------ *SEGAMAT: A conservatory will be set up on Gunung Ledang to help save the rare orchids found there. * The State Government expects to work with the Malaysian Nature Society's Johor branch on this project. The society pointed out recently that the orchids were being depleted by thieves who had, over the years, profited from harvesting the highly prized plants on the mountain. The popular varieties of the plants include the Paphiopdilum barbatum (slipper orchid) and the Grammatophyllum speciosum (tiger orchid). Johor Tourism and Environment committee chairman Freddie Long said MNSJ proposed the conservatory during its annual general meeting last Saturday. However, he was unable to estimate the cost of replanting the orchids found scattered in the recreational forest between 600m and 800m above sea level. Under the project, orchids, especially those growing along the mountain pathways, will be replanted at the conservatory. Tissue culture techniques will be used to replenish the depleting number of species on the mountain. The orchids, which have restricted growing habitats, are the targets of thieves. They use tissue culture to produce new hybrids, which can fetch high prices in the international orchid trade. Long said about 30 guides were available at the Gunung Ledang park to accompany trekkers who were among the 20,000 visitors to the mountain every year. MNSJ's findings show that orchid trafficking deprives Malaysia of its share of the multi-billion ringgit orchid trade. The situation is worsened by the trading of orchids online. MNSJ's head of biodiversity research Vincent Chow said: " Although tissue-culturing is used to produce the blooms in large quantities, growers still need new stalks as repeated subdivision of the species causes abnormalities. " He added that orchid poachers also targeted the forest reserves at Gunung Belumut in Kluang and Gunung Panti in Kota Tinggi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.