Bio-diversity

The people in the past collected only flowers without destroying the habitat but with the expansion of knowledge on its beautiful color and medicinal value it has, the commercial collectors in the wild started increasing throughout Bhutan especially for home and ceremonial decoration. Unlike the forest in other parts of the Dzongkhag Gedu, Chasilakha and Pakshikha are known to be clouded forests as these forests is home for diverse species of wild orchids. The Orchid plants are known for attractive color and shape of their flowers and because of their attractiveness in nature they are cultivated at home or used for decoration during special events. The flowers are collected illegally and marketed or consumed as sources of food by the rural communities. Regardless of their potentials, wild orchids including the edible species are facing a great danger of extinction. High exploitation pressure and high pressure on orchid habitat in the Project areas have placed the edible wild orchids into a threat to extinction (reported by Gedu Range Officer). Harvesting of the orchid is associated with removal of the vegetative parts and as a result the illegal consumption has threatened not only the orchid but also other plants and trees in the area. Apart from high threat faced by the wild orchid in the areas, very little attention has been given to them. Very little is known about their geographic range and conservation status. As a result, this project aims in promoting conservation of orchids through in-situ ex-situ conservation approaches and sustainable marketing of orchids to generate community income.

Bhutan