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A review of the trade in orchids and its implications for conservation

Hinsley, Amy, de Boer, Hugo J., Fay, Michael F., Gale, Stephan W., Gardiner, Lauren M., Gunasekara, Rajasinghe S., Kumar, Pankaj, Masters, Susanne, Metusala, Destario, Roberts, David L., and others. (2017) A review of the trade in orchids and its implications for conservation. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 186 (4). pp. 435-455. ISSN 0024-4074. (doi:10.1093/botlinnean/box083) (KAR id:65487)

Abstract

Orchids are one of the largest plant families and are commercially traded for a variety of purposes, including as ornamental plants, medicinal products and food. These markets involve thousands of species, which may be traded legally or illegally, sustainably or unsustainably, and take place at local, national or international scales. In this review, we provide the first overview of commercial orchid trade globally and highlight the main types that involve wild-collected plants. Much of this trade is the result of illegal harvest meaning that it is little documented and is absent from official statistics, at the same time as being of growing conservation concern. We discuss the associated legal–regulatory context, identify key conservation challenges and highlight four key priorities for addressing these challenges. These are to (1) research trade dynamics and the impacts of harvest; (2) strengthen the legal trade of orchids; (3) adopt measures to reduce illegal trade; and (4) raise the profile of orchid trade among policy makers, conservationists and the public.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/botlinnean/box083
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Q Science > QK Botany
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: David Roberts
Date Deposited: 15 Dec 2017 22:46 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 16:28 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/65487 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Hinsley, Amy.

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CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Roberts, David L..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6788-2691
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