Sai Bhone Myat

Renanthera Imschootiana as a Flagship Species for Environmental Education and Conservation in Yat Sawk Region, Myanmar

Renanthera imschootiana blooming in the wild.

Orchid surveying with local volunteer.

Discussion about Renanthera imschootiana in Mone-Pyin village.

Habitat Loss due to deforestation.

Town/RegionCountryCategoriesDate
Yat Sawk, ShanMyanmarAsia, Plants, Seeds22 Feb 2010

The threatened epiphytic orchid species Renanthera imschootiana or Chin Thit- Khwa in Burmese is native to the Indo-Myanmar mega-biodiversity region, classified under Appendix I of CITES, and extremely rare in both India and Myanmar. This species can found on tree trunks, it has loosely many flowered inflorescence with semi orbicular floral bracts and long-lasting flowers.

In Yat Sawk region this species is threatened due to indiscriminate collection and severe habitat loss from logging, forest clearance for agriculture and human encroachment upon wild areas.These factors affect many local species, of which Renanthera imschootiana is a recognisable flagship. More research into the status and distribution of this rare orchid is needed to assess its threat of extinction.The project duration is one year.Status surveys, records and classification of found orchid species will be carried out at least one time in each season (summer, rainy and cold season).

Environmental education programs in villages, setting posters, field trip with schoolchildren and investigation of orchid markets will carry out in mid project.Donation of seed pods and fresh orchid plants for in- vitro culture to laboratories and national parks, conducting orchid rehabilitation places in the villages, distributing the orchid propagation methods, broadcasting of talks about pollutions, global warming and wildlife conservation as a series on radio, preparation and publishing the book - “Basic information of wildlife conservation” and will distribute free of charge to schools, universities, village libraries and other interested organizations.

The education programs will include instillation the knowledge of natural resource conservation, protection of this endangered species, orchid propagation methods, distribution of pamphlets, setting posters and demonstration and sharing the knowledge of wildlife conservation with videos (wildlife conservation DVDs).The pamphlet will design illustration of threatened orchid species; why and how to conserve them, the brief information of biodiversity conservation and these pamphlet will use in education programs in project site and will also distribute to the visitors of National Parks and Botanic Garden.

For further information contact bhonemyat.sai@gmail.com

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.

Project Update: January 2011

Two orchid surveys were done in July and November 2010. During our trip we had a chance to collect the detached orchid plants; we also received other donated native orchid species from local people. With those orchids we built two orchid rehabilitation centres. We have a plan to donate some of those rare native orchid species to national parks and laboratories for in-vitro culture.

Three environmental conservation programmes were held in schools (one high school and two middle schools). Discussion and awareness talks with local people were done during orchid surveys.

So far, we are preparing about conservation of Myanmar rare orchid article to publish in the journal. Data collection, words arrangement, picture editing are being done to publish the book on “Basic information of wildlife conservation”.

Final Report

Read more about the activities undertaken and findings of this project in the final report below.

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Final Report699 KB

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