Synthesis of wild orchid trade and demography provides new insight on conservation strategies

Conservation Letters

Ernesto Aguirre‐León¹  Tamara Ticktin²  Demetria Mondragón³  Mariana Hernández‐Apolinar⁴  Leonel Lopez‐Toledo⁵  Daniela Dutra‐Elliott⁶ 

[1] Asociación Mexicana de Orquideología Mexico City Mexico;Botany Department University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Honolulu Hawaii;CIIDIR‐Oaxaca Instituto Politécnico Nacional Oaxaca Mexico;Departamento de Ecologia y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City Mexico;Instituto de Investigaciones sobre los Recursos Naturales Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo Morelia Mexico;Math and Sciences University of Hawai‘i Leeward Pearl City Hawaii;

关键词: conservation policy;    illegal wildlife trade;    matrix models;    Mexico;    orchids;    social–ecological systems;   

DOI  :  10.1111/conl.12697

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Illegal wildlife trade represents a global conservation priority, but the booming illegal trade in wild plants remains understudied. We use the Mexican orchid trade to illustrate an interdisciplinary approach to provide novel insight on conservation strategies and policies. We synthesize studies of orchid markets, national orchid confiscation records, CITES registers, and global population dynamics studies to document trade patterns and potential ecological impacts. We found 333 wild‐harvested orchid taxa illegally traded in domestic markets. Clear patterns emerged: 90% were epiphytic and <4% traded in high volumes, all of which had pseudobulbs and bloomed during cultural festivals. Most sales were pseudobulbs, not whole plants. Review of demographic studies indicates whole‐plant harvest is unviable but simulations show potential for sustainable harvest of pseudobulbs. The combination of social and ecological findings suggests a novel multipronged approach to improve conservation, including selective monitoring, enforcement focused on whole‐plant harvest, and community‐based wild harvest of pseudobulbs.

【 授权许可】

Unknown