Orchid conservation: bridging the gap between science and practice

Abstract

Threats to orchid survival continue to intensify, with > 50% of the orchids that have been assessed for the IUCN Global Red List falling in to one of the categories of threat. Despite the best efforts of the orchid conservation community, the capacity to develop solutions at the species-level will be outstripped by the sheer scale and pace of change. In response to these challenges, scientists and conservation practitioners must make difficult choices in prioritizing their work. Following the 6th International Orchid Conservation Congress, we call for greater overlap between science-driven research objectives and real conservation needs.