Conservation and Monitoring of Meso-American Orchids
Cloud forest in Tapanti National Park, Costa Rica, where monitoring orchid diversity is taking place as part of a Darwin Initiative project
The project will develop in Costa Rica new expertise for biodiversity research and conservation of Meso-American orchids, and specifically: (a) provide measures of biological diversity and establish long-term monitoring sites; (b) develop the necessary strategies, policies and material transfer agreements for conservation and sustainable use of orchids (including use of genetic material, propagation and potential commercialisation); (c) undertake a pilot study on DNA barcoding for conservation and trade surveillance; (d) achieve high standards for research and training in orchid biology and link this with global efforts to build the orchid Tree-of-Life; (e) increase awareness in societal, academic, and political sectors of the necessity of conserving the epiphytic flora; and (f) help implement Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) and the IUCN/SSC orchid action plan.
This project benefits from a grant from the Darwin Initiative for the period 2005-2008.
Project Team
Project Leader: Savolainen, Vincent
Herbarium
Phillip Cribb, Kate Davis, Madeleine Groves, Dave Roberts, China Williams
HPE
Margaret Ramsay
Jodrell Laboratory
Mark Chase, Guillaume Gigot, Martyn Powell, Vincent Savolainen
Project Partners and Collaborators
Costa Rica
INBio
Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía (MINAE and SINAC)
Tropical Science Center - Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve
University of Costa Rica
Funders
UK
The Darwin Initiative