Project Update: May 2010

On March 21st, 2010, we undertook the first orchid survey along the river bank of Zaw Gyi. The second survey was made on 6th and 7th May 2010 around the forest between Mone-Pyin and Chone-Nge villages (approximately 15 miles between these two villages). The Renanthera imschootiana are in flowering stage both in village home gardens and in the wild.

The following species were found in flowering stage through surveys: Acampe papillosa, Aerides crassifolia ,Bulbophyllum sp., Cymbidium aloifolium, Dendrobium aphyllum , Dendrobium carniferum, Dendrobium chrysotoxum, Dendrobium delacourii, Dendrobium farmeri , Dendrobium fimbriatum, Dendrobium keithii, Dendrobium moschatum, Dendrobium nobile, Eria sp., Eulophia sp., Hygrochilus parishii, Schoenorchis seidenfadenii, Staurochilus dawsonianum, Rhynchostylis retusa and Vanda bensonii and other orchids without flowers are under classification. During survey trips awareness meetings and discussions were also undertaken in two villages. In discussions, we shared the knowledge of biodiversity conservation and highlighted the overexploiting of orchids from the wild. Local people are interested to establish an Orchid Rehabilitation Center in their region.