Plant hunting in Thailand

Impressive biodiversity 

Tropical rain forest, mangrove swamps, flat-topped sandstone mountains, fertile plains and peat swamp forest can all be found in Thailand. 

This magnificent country is highly biodiverse, with around 10,000 to 12,000 plant species. These plants are an essential part of the ecosystems that provide territory for tigers, leopards and elephants.  

Many of Thailand's plants are yet to be described, and until this has been done we have no way of knowing which may be under threat. 

Discovering Thailand's plants 

Kew has developed strong links with Thailand through the Flora of Thailand project. This international collaboration has the ambitious aim of documenting all the flowering plants, cone-bearing plants and ferns of Thailand. 

The project started in 1963, and over the following five decades grew to include representatives from nine countries. Over 5,000 species have been described, including orchids, carnivorous sundews, morning glories and bamboos. Partners aim to finish the project with a celebratory conference in Bangkok in 2024. 

Saving species 

Thailand's biodiversity is under threat, in particular as a result of illegal logging, fire and climate change. 

Great steps have already been taken to protect species, for example through the creation of national parks, forest parks and wildlife sanctuaries. The Flora of Thailand project will lead to the publication of plant information that will be essential in targeting the species most at risk. 

As part of the project a new generation of talented Thai botanists have been trained, who are now actively helping the project to achieve its goals. This long-term, multinational collaboration is a great example of how countries can successfully work together to protect biodiversity.