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494  ORCHIDS AUGUST 2012 WWW.AOS.ORG Thunder Dragon Orchids DESPITE BEING ONE OF THE SMALL- est nations, Bhutan has a rich and diverse orchid flora. The Thunder Dragon Orchid Conservation Project (TDOCP) is adminis- trated by the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC), which is a nondepartmental orga- nization under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, located in Serbithang. The aim is to survey remote and previously unexplored areas in the country, as well as more easily accessible habitats, in order to build a scientific basis for meaningful programs of orchid conservation, cultiva- tion, education, propagation and research. Great efforts are made by the staff at the NBC in collaboration with staff from other governmental departments and interna- tional partners, such as the Sarasota Orchid Society, to find ways to utilize orchids as a sustainable economic resource not only for Bhutan, but to serve as a model for other countries as well. The TDOCP depends on volunteer work, grants and donations to a considerable degree. Tax-deductable dona- tions within the United States are channeled through the Bhutan Foundation, earmarked for the project. The orchid flora of Bhutan is similar to that of neighboring countries, such as the Himalayan region of India and Nepal. The primary scientific publication on this sub- ject is The Orchid Flora of Bhutan (Pearce and Cribb 2002), from here on referred to as “the Flora,” where 579 species from the general floristic area are listed, of which 369 are recorded from Bhutan. Fourteen of these species are listed as endemic. Accord- ing to the authors of the Flora, the majority of the listed species that are not previously reported from Bhutan are still expected to occur there. In addition, approximately 130 species are either reported (but not seen by the authors) from the nearby Sikkim and Darjeeling areas, or from the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh immediately to the east of Bhutan. This speculation is confirmed by Dhan Bahadur Gurung in his useful field guide to the orchid flora (Gurung 2006), where the author claims to have set a new record of 423 species reported for Bhutan, including 54 for the first time. Unfortunately, Gurung does not list the species that he believes are new to the country, which makes his information 1 2 [1–2] The National Biodiversity Centre Orchi- darium under construction in 2008 [1] and being planted out in 2011 [2].
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Page 1: Thunder dragon orchids

494  Orchids  august  2012    www.AOS.Org

Thunder Dragon OrchidsDespite being one of the small-est nations, bhutan has a rich and diverse orchid flora. the thunder Dragon orchid Conservation project (tDoCp) is adminis-trated by the national biodiversity Centre (nbC), which is a nondepartmental orga-nization under the ministry of agriculture and forests, located in serbithang. the aim is to survey remote and previously unexplored areas in the country, as well as more easily accessible habitats, in order to build a scientific basis for meaningful programs of orchid conservation, cultiva-tion, education, propagation and research. great efforts are made by the staff at the nbC in collaboration with staff from other governmental departments and interna-tional partners, such as the sarasota orchid society, to find ways to utilize orchids as a sustainable economic resource not only for bhutan, but to serve as a model for other countries as well. the tDoCp depends on volunteer work, grants and donations to a considerable degree. tax-deductable dona-tions within the United states are channeled through the bhutan foundation, earmarked for the project.

the orchid flora of bhutan is similar to that of neighboring countries, such as the himalayan region of india and nepal. the primary scientific publication on this sub-ject is The Orchid Flora of Bhutan (pearce and Cribb 2002), from here on referred to as “the flora,” where 579 species from the general floristic area are listed, of which 369 are recorded from bhutan. fourteen of these species are listed as endemic. accord-ing to the authors of the flora, the majority of the listed species that are not previously reported from bhutan are still expected to occur there. in addition, approximately 130 species are either reported (but not seen by the authors) from the nearby sikkim and Darjeeling areas, or from the West Kameng district of arunachal pradesh immediately to the east of bhutan. this speculation is confirmed by Dhan bahadur gurung in his useful field guide to the orchid flora (gurung 2006), where the author claims to have set a new record of 423 species reported for bhutan, including 54 for the first time. Unfortunately, gurung does not list the species that he believes are new to the country, which makes his information

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[1–2]  the National Biodiversity centre Orchi-

darium under construction in 2008 [1] and 

being planted out in 2011 [2].

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A Conservation Project Takes Root in Bhutantext aNd phOtOgraphs By stig dalstrÖm, NgawaNg gyeltsheN, chOki gyeltsheN aNd Nima gyeltsheN

[3]  Esmeralda clarkei, rare and desirable, 

from the forests of trongsa.

[4]  Ngawang gyeltshen, Nima gyeltshen 

and choki gyeltshen (not related) admire 

an Asctm. himalaicum, known from a 

single locality in Bhutan.

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496  Orchids  august  2012    www.AOS.Org

less useful. it is also uncertain whether any preserved specimens exist to verify these numbers.

Despite the excellent work by pearce and Cribb, and by gurung, a lot of work is left to be done in order to fully understand the entire orchid flora of bhutan, basically because there are many remote areas that remain to be accessed and botanically in-ventoried. this work is crucial for insight-ful decisions and meaningful strategies in order to protect the flora. in addition, the checklist published in the flora is to a large extent based on collections from herbaria outside of bhutan, mostly european, but with india, Japan, south africa and the United states also represented. in order to fully comprehend, protect and sustainably utilize the natural biodiversity in bhutan, it is necessary to establish scientific col-lections at the national herbarium (nbC). these collections and databases will rep-resent the foundation for future studies of the bhutan flora and fauna. one of many ambitions of the tDoCp is to produce more complete and illustrated treatments of the orchids in bhutan. another specific goal is to have all existing bhutanese orchid spe-cies represented by preserved specimens in the national herbarium, and a representa-tive live collection available for research and display in the Royal botanic garden in serbithang. it is equally important to have all specimens correctly identified and classified, and well maintained (live or preserved), which is crucial for any future projects that will incorporate these plants.

why  cONserVatiON? sithar Dorji discusses the topic of orchid conser-vation in The Field Guide to the Orchids of Bhutan (2008), where he outlines many

well-founded arguments why nature con-servation in general and orchid conserva-tion in particular is urgently needed and im-portant, not only in bhutan but throughout the world. the major threats to the orchids in bhutan are, according to Dorji, habitat destruction (including habitat change) due to deforestation, burning, and human and livestock predation (collecting and graz-ing). he also lists examples of what can be done to improve the situation, focusing on education (to understand and identify the threats), ecotourism as an alternative income source, propagation and cultivation of threatened and/or horticultural desir-able species, reintroduction in protected areas, alternative agriculture and forestry methods and crops (leave larger trees for shade, soil stabilization and protection, and for epiphyte habitat, etc.), protect valuable niches for terrestrials and protect forest-covered slopes (by reforestation of native species if necessary). the establishment of a botanical garden with a supportive director, able and willing growers, and, of course, access to funds, is mentioned by Dorji as crucial in any orchid conservation program. sithar Dorji also gives examples of what can be done to improve the situa-tion even by local villagers with access to limited funding, such as local habitat and population studies. the final words in his book urge the bhutanese people to identify, document, harvest and share the informa-tion they have on the flora of their country with their fellow citizens of the world.

these are all important orchid conser-vation components that the tDoCp team acknowledges and supports.

We would also like to add some obser-vations and facts that often are overlooked in discussions about orchid conservation. it is generally accepted that the orchid family is the largest, most widespread and most variable plant group in terms of habitat adaptations, pollination syndromes and general morphology. it is not so well documented, however, that the orchid family quite possibly is the oldest flower-ing plant group on the planet. a private amber collector in the Dominican Republic discovered in 2000 an amber specimen that contained a nowadays extinct bee (Problebeia dominicana) carrying pol-linia on its abdomen of a likewise extinct orchid (Meliorchis caribea). the insect was estimated to be approximately 20 million years old. through elaborate “time clock” computer models worked out by some scientists, it has since been concluded that the orchid family probably is ca. 100–120 million years old. this came as a surprise to others who previously had assumed that the orchid family was a rather young and recently developed group.

in any case, through the multitude of living examples, it is clear that the orchid family represents a successful complex of organisms with efficient survival strategies, and that we humans can learn a lot from this. principles such as living in sustain-able populations, utilizing other organisms without destroying and extirpating them and adapting to the environment rather than changing it to suit short-term gains, represent sound survival conditions for any living being. Unfortunately, these simple truths seem to be difficult for us to ac-knowledge and accept. Denial is a powerful human flaw and an excellent way to avoid solving problems. only by opening our minds and eyes to face reality can we hope to improve the rather dismal environmental condition of our planet. in addition, a much broader understanding of the importance and value of a rich biodiversity, increased respect and empathy for other fellow life forms and a more level-headed approach to how we view our “rights” to limited natural riches need to be developed in order for the human species, as well as our beloved orchids, to survive on a long-term perspective.

as a consequence of the here-men-tioned (and many other) survival skills, orchids also serve as “canaries in the coal mine.” When one of the most successful “higher” organisms on the planet no longer can survive, something horrific is happen-ing to the environment. a sad example is the many previously forested areas that have become deserts due to extensive

[5]  Cymbidium iridioides spikes ready for a 

salad.

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logging and burning practices, usually for short-term financial or survival gains. as far as food production goes, we are all in the same boat and have to live off the land, one way or another. but it has to be in a sustainable manner. When our “way of living” exhausts the natural resources and leads to extermination of living flora and fauna, it will also have devastating effects on our own survival in the long run.”

basically, almost all (and not limited to) environmental problems in the world today can be summarized by a couple of factors: human greed and overpopulation.

referencesDorji, s. 2008. The Field Guide to the Orchids of Bhutan.

bhutan orchid science society.gurung, D.b. 2006. An Illustrated Guide to the Orchids of

Bhutan. Dsb publications, thimphu, bhutan.pearce, n.R., and p.J. Cribb. 2002. The Orchids of Bhu-

tan. Royal botanic garden, edinburgh, and the Royal government of bhutan, thimphu.

acknowledgmentsthis article is dedicated in memory of and

gratitude for sithar Dorji, a dedicated pioneer of orchid research and conservation in bhutan, who tragically passed away before he had a chance to see his visionary projects being realized.

the authors wish to thank the Royal govern-ment of bhutan, tashi Yangzome Dorji and the staff at the national biodiversity Centre in serbithang, thimphu. a special thank you goes to Carole and terry hill, stig peterson, pep Ruddiman, hugh stephens, sharon and Russell stephens, the Com-munity foundation of sarasota County (florida), bill thoms, Central florida orchid society and the sarasota orchid society for support. an additional thank you is expressed to Kampon tansacha and anders lindström at the nong nooch tropical botanical garden, thailand, and the marie selby botanical gardens, sarasota, florida, for having provided administrative and horticultural training for nbC staff. sincere gratitude is also directed toward thomas höijer of Jakobsberg, sweden.

Stig Dalström is a research associate with the Centro de Investigación en Orquideas de los Andes “Angel Andreetta,” Gualaceo, Ecuador; Lankester Botanical Garden, University of Costa Rica, Cartago, Costa Rica; and the National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang, Thimphu, Bhutan. 2304 Ring-ling Boulevard, Unit 119, Sarasota, Florida 34237 (email [email protected]; website www.wildorchidman.com).

Ngawang Gyeltshen is with the Wildlife Conservation Division of the Department of Forests and Park Services, Thimphu, Bhutan (email [email protected]).

Choki Gyeltshen is biodiversity officer with the National Biodiversity Centre, Serbiithang, Thimphu, Bhutan.

Nima Gyeltshen is forest ranger II and supervisor of the Orchidarium, National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang, Thimphu, Bhutan.

[6]  Bulbophyllum crassipes near the hot 

springs of gelephug.

[7]  Ngawang gyeltshen and tandin wangdi 

look at pressed specimens in the Na-

tional herbarium.

[8]  choki gyeltshen, in charge of the her-

barium press.

[9]  Ascocentrum himalaicum, a rare species 

from the forests of trongsa.

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