TRAFFIC and WWF-India have published a factsheet and poster highlighting India's protected orchids. They highlight species in the country that are listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the international agreement between governments that regulates international trade of threatened species. This includes all of the Paphiopedilum lady slipper orchids in the country, Vanda coerulea and Renanthera imschootiana.
Importantly, there are many other threatened orchid species in India, including not only ornamental species featured on the poster, but also many species commercially harvested from the wild for us in Ayurvedic medicinal trade.
The publication has been picked up by media outlets in India, which is important given how little attention plant conservation usually receives. It is significant that these large conservation organisations are taking an interest in orchid trade and conservation.
