Happy Holidays!  This time of year holds particular joy for angraecoid growers.  Many species of angraecoids flower during the winter months.  In the northern hemisphere, winter blooming flowers are a particular pleasure.  As I write, I am enveloped by the fragrance from multiple Angraecum sesquipedale plants and hybrids.  There are also several sesquipedale hybrids in bloom as well-- Angraecum Crestwood and Angraecum Veitchii.  If only blog posts could include fragrance.

Congratulations to Angraecoid Alliance member Suzanne Hobbs.  She recently won the the Christine M. Chowning Award for the Best Angraecoid Species at the Mid America Orchid Congress' Fall Meeting.  The show was held October 27 and 28 in Kansas City Missouri.  Suzanne's lovely Angraecum didieri won the prize.

The plant was included in The Angraecoid Alliance's educational exhibit.   Congratulations Suzanne.

Another opportunity to educate.

In October 2012 The Angraecoid Alliance presented an educational exhibit at the Mid America Orchid Congress' Fall show in Kansas City, Missouri.  The Alliance's President, Sarah Waddoups, designed and prepared the large floor exhibit which included four large banners which provided information about Madagascar, Angraecoids generally, Threats to Habitat, Conservation & Cultivation and an introduction to the Angraecoid Alliance.  In the center of the exhibit, several angraecoid species and primary hybrids in bloom were exhibited in front of a large photograph of Angraecum sesquipedale.

We were very honored to receive the Orchid Digest Show Trophy for the exhibit and a 94 point Educational Exhibit Certificate from the American Orchid Society.  In addition, an Angraecum didieri grown by Alliance member Suzanne Hobbs won the Christine Chowning trophy for the best angraecoid species.   The exhibit and blooming plants also received other trophies and ribbons. 

The exhibit also included two copies of a research paper -- which included extensive discussion of the threats to Madagascar's habitat and an analysis of various integrated conservation and development projects in Madagascar.  Portions of that paper are being published in each of the Alliance quarterly newsletters.

The awards and trophies received by the exhibit were lovely, and we appreciate the opportunity to educate about angraecoids and their conservation. 

Photographs of Exhibit

Good news and bad news

First the good news: The IUCN Red List of Endangered Species doesn't include nearly as many angraecoid orchids as I had expected. (The IUCN is the International Union for Conservation of Nature.) The Red List is probably the single most comprehensive assessment of the extinction risk for thousands of plant and animal species. At present, the list is not yet complete for plants, but the IUCN does have a specific task force of experts focused on orchids. Links to the IUCN website, the Red List and the Orchid Specialist Group may be found at the bottom of this post.  So, the good news is that there were not nearly as many angraecoid orchids listed as I had anticipated.  This could be because they have not yet been assessed, or because they aren't quite as threatened as I had supposed.  I hope it is the later, but suspect it is the former. 

The bad news is the angraecoid species which are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.  

• Angraecum penzigianum -- Vulnerable
• Angraecum humblotianum -- Endangered
• Angraecum pinifolium -- Critically Endangered
• Angraecum coutrixii -- Endangered
• Angraecum sanfordii -- Endangered
• Aeranthes carnosa -- Vulnerable
• Aeranthes tropophila -- Vulnerable 
• Sobennikoffia poissoniana -- Vulnerable 

Most likely there are quite a few others that will join this list.  For example, Kew has observed that Angraecum longicalcar may already be extinct in the wild, and both Angraecum magdalenae and Aeranthes henricii have been collected almost to the point of regional extinction.  

IUCN main webpage: 
http://www.iucn.org/

Search for species on the IUCN Red List web page:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/

IUCN Red List available for download at: 
http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/publications/analysis_of_the_2008_red_list/

Visit the IUCN's Orchid Specialist Group's webpage: 
http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/who_we_are/ssc_specialist_groups_and_red_list_authorities_directory/plants/orchid_specialist_group/

Our Mission:

The Angraecoid Alliance is a world-wide group whose objectives are: 


1.  To increase the number of angraecoid species cultivated ex situ to improve the likelihood of species survival;
2.  Foster the in-situ conservation of angraecoids by establishing a free-trade orchid nursery in connection with the protection of a threatened habitat; and
3. Actively educate orchid growers and the general public about these endangered plants, the rampant destruction of the habitat and further educate to ensure successful cultivation and ex-situ conservation. 


These three missions will dictate the Alliance's course.  


The Ex-Situ Conservation (ESC) project will be a cooperative effort involving angraecoid growers from around the world.  This collaboration will "increase the number of angraecoid species cultivated ex situ to improve the likelihood of species survival" by contributing pollen, setting seed pods and sharing seed and ultimately distributing the flasks and seedlings to as many collections as possible.  


You can read more about the ESC program in our newsletter--available as a PDF here. 


Some commonly asked questions: 


Can people or institutions outside of the United States participate? 
Yes, absolutely!  The Angraecoid Alliance is based in the US, but already has members in several other countries.  Pollen and seed sharing as well as flasking will be done worldwide.  As flasks or seedlings become available the Alliance will work to legally distribute them to donors and members worldwide.   


Are Angraecoid orchids from Africa included, or just Madagascar? 
Yes, the Alliance includes all Angraecoid orchids, including those found in Madagascar and those from Africa. 


How will plants from the ESC program be distributed? 

The Alliance's objective is to distribute these species as widely as possible.  Seedlings (and flasks if yield is sufficient) will be distributed as follows: 

1. The donors of the pollen, the pod plant and flasking services for each particular seed capsule will have first option to receive the resulting seedlings and/or flasks. 
2. Next, any Angraecoid Alliance member with ESC status may obtain plants.  There will necessarily be some costs involved, but they will be kept minimal as possible.  ESC status is obtained by members who actively participate in the program.  Again more details can be found in our newsletter.  These growers will recieve the plants with the understanding that they are to be cultivated specifically for ex-situ conservation purposes.  The Alliance will privately maintain a list of where these plants have been distributed so that should additional pollen or seed be needed, it can readily be found.  
3. Members of the Alliance and the public.  The sale of these plants may include some donation to the Alliance in order to assist with flasking costs or the cost of distributing plants internationally to members.  The details about this distribution will be determined by the Alliance members.  

How can I join the Angraecoid Alliance?  
It is very simple.  Fill out the member information form available here.  The annual dues of $10 can be mailed to the address on the form or paid via paypal on our webpage.  

The Angraecoid Alliance's Summer 2012 newsletter is available at:

http://www.angraecoids.org/uploads/Summer_2012_Newsletter.pdf

or visit
www.angraecoids.org and click on "contact us" then follow the link to the newsletter.



Annual dues of $10 can be paid by visiting the membership page on our website.
http://www.angraecoids.org/Membership.html

First Quarterly Newsletter

The Angraecoid Alliance will publish a newsletter quarterly for its members.  Our first issue is ready to "go to press" today.  Eventually, we may go to an entirely electronic form, but for now at least the newsletter will arrive in your actual mailbox.  If you would like to receive the newsletter, please email us at angraecoids@gmail.com to get on our mailing list.

Membership in The Angraecoid Alliance

For several months now, I have considered how best to welcome other angraecoid growers as members of The Angraecoid Alliance.  There are a number of orchid societies, groups and specific genera alliances, and each is currently struggling to maintain its membership.   As should be obvious, the purpose of The Angraecoid Alliance is not to create just another orchid group that happens to be dedicated to angraecoids.  Rather, our objective is to make a serious impact on both the in situ conservation and the successful ex situ cultivation of these plants.

So, to that end, we have decided that membership in the Alliance should reward and facilitate efforts to that end.  While the details are still being worked out, we will base some or all of membership on individual or business participation in a world-wide effort to share pollen, set pods, flask the seed and then disperse the plants for cultivation.  Members who participate in the effort will have the first option to obtain the plants propagated via the Alliance.  The cost of obtaining the plants (or flasks) will be minimal.  This is not a for-profit endeavor.  Members of the Alliance will presumably be interested in growing or at least conserving angraecoids ex situ.  Most certainly, should an individual or business obtain a flask, those plants could be resold, but the primary objective would be to create a co-op for the propagation and ex situ conservation of the plants.

If you have thoughts about the logistics of this method of membership, we welcome your emails or comments here on the blog.    And, please email angraecoids@gmail.com to receive our quarterly newsletter which will be sent in July.

Meeting other orchid growers who cultivate angraecoids is always a pleasure.  Several weeks ago, Cindy Hill called  as she prepared to write an article for "Orchids" about Cryptopus paniculatus.  My conversation with her only underscored the urgent need for both conservation and cultivation of these orchids.  After surveying a number of the botanical gardens, orchid nurseries and private collectors, she found less than a dozen plants.   Her article in the June 2012 issue of "Orchids" gives the encouraging news that at least one nursery has successfully flasked this species. 

And, she discovered that the angraecoid devotees are very willing to cooperate and share information to further the conservation and successful cultivation of these beautiful orchids.  I couldn't agree more.   Thank you Cindy for mentioning The Angraecoid Alliance in your article, and even more thanks for gathering and sharing information about this little known angraecoid.

"Orchids" is published monthly by the American Orchid Society.  Annual membership subscriptions and/or copies of individual issues can be obtained by visiting www.aos.org.

The Angraecoid Alliance receives American Orchid Society award

 

This weekend the Angraecoid Alliance had an exhibit at the American Orchid Society's Trustees' Meeting hosted by the Southwest Regional Orchid Growers Association in Wichita.  The exhibit focused on the importance of conservation of angraecoid orchids in Madagscar and cultivation ex situ.  The exhibit received an educational award from the AOS.  The award description was very flattering:  

"Dramatic exhibit telling the story of how in-situ and ex-situ conservation may save angraecoid orchids threatened by habitat destruction in Madagascar.  Focused presentation draws observer to a central focal point, a photograph of Angraecum sesquipedale, the quintessential Madagascaran orchid.  The eye naturally retreats to a collection of Angraecoid species and hybrids in bloom and two comprehensive reference manuals.  This tabletop exhibit is flanked by four two-feet by five feet banners giving an overall description of slash and burn deforestation.  The end banner identifies the Angraecoid Alliance as a new organization and source for additional information."

The exhibit also served to open conversation with a number of individuals.  Several show attendees gave me the contact information for various individuals who have expertise in Madagascar, flasking etc.  There is so much to be done, but I appreciated the encouragement of the individual conversations and the AOS award.

In developing The Angraecoid Alliance, it seemed only reasonable to research what Integrated Conservation and Development projects had been successful in Madagascar.  Because Madagascar is such a high-priority country for conservation, there are quite a number of scholarly journals dedicated to various aspects of conservation.  

There are articles which provide an in depth analysis of the deforestation and habitat destruction in Madagascar: 

• Grady J. Harper et al., “Fifty years of deforestation and forest fragmentation in Madagascar,” Environmental Conservation 34, no. 4 (2007): 330.
• Orjan Bodin et al., “The Value of Small Size:  Loss of Forest Patches and Ecological Thresholds in Southern Madagascar,” Ecological Applications 16, no. 2 (2006): 440.
•  James E.M. Watson, et al., “Habitat structure and proximity to forest edge affect the abundance and distribution of forest dependent birds in tropical coastal forest of southeastern Madagascar,” Biological Conservation 120 (2004): 311.

 There are articles specifically assessing the success of ICDPs and other economic development projects in Madagascar.  

• Nadine V. M. Fritz-Vietta et al., “Community-based management in two biosphere reserves in Madagascar—distinctions and similarities: What can be learned from different approaches,” Madagascar Conservation & Development 4, no. 2 (Dec. 2009): 90.
• Robert A. Kozak, “Alternative business models for forest-dependent communities in Africa:  A pragmatic consideration of small-scale enterprises and a path forward,” Madagascar Conservation & Development 4, no. 2 (Dec. 2009): 7.
• C. Kremen et al., “Economic Incentives for Rain Forest Conservation across Scales,” Science 288 (9 June 2000): 1830.
•  Jorg U. Ganzhorn, “A combined research agenda towards integrated conservation and development for Madagascar,” Madagascar Conservation & Development 5, no. 2 (Dec. 2010): 82.
•  Jeffrey Sayer, “Can conservation and development really be integrated,” Madagascar Conservation & Development 4, no. 1, (June 2009): 10.
• Richard R. Marcus, “Seeing the Forest for the Trees:  Integrated Conservation and Development Projects and Local Perceptions of Conservation in Madagascar,” Human Ecology 29, no. 4 (2001): 384.

There are articles analyzing the Malagasy people's reaction to and feelings about conservation reserves. 

• Richard R. Marcus, “Seeing the Forest for the Trees:  Integrated Conservation and Development Projects and Local Perceptions of Conservation in Madagascar,” Human Ecology 29, no. 4 (2001): 382.
•  Andrew Walsh, “The Obvious Aspects of Ecological Underprivilege in Ankara, Northern Madagascar, American Anthropologist 107, no. 4 (Dec. 2005): 654.

There are articles evaluating land management concerns and issues unique to Madagascar because of its history and culture. 

• William J. McConnell and Sean P. Sweeney, “Challenges of Forest Governance in Madagascar,” The Geographical Journal 171, no. 2 (June 2005): 227.
•  Christian A. Kull, Isle of Fire:  The Political Ecology of Landscape Burning in Madagascar (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2004), 15.
•  Daniela Raik, “Forest Management in Madagascar: An Historical Overview,” Madagascar Conservation & Development 2, no. 1 (Dec. 2007): 5-10.

Having read these sources -- and dozens of others -- I have come to several conclusions.  

1. Conservation in Madagascar needs to happen now.  (Well, actually it needed to happen 10 years ago, but now will have to do.)  There are a number of organizations working hard to conserve habitat in Madagascar.  Many of them have been in Madagascar for a long time and have made significant progress. 
   
2. The Angraecoid Alliance's planned nursery and conservation area is following in the footsteps of other successful programs.  One of the experts observed that successful ICDPs “almost always come from the new opportunities presented by external investment, new infrastructure and access to markets.”   (Sayer, 10).  The Angraecoid Alliance, Inc. plans to provide the investment and training to establish the nursery and micro-propagation facility. 
   We will also obtain the necessary documentation for the nursery to legally export the orchids around the world and will assist to develop the international market.  Finally, we will broker the plant sales on behalf of the nursery until such time as it can be independently managed by the village community.
   
3. There is a great deal of work to be done, even before we break ground in Madagascar.  Of course, that is obvious, but not discouraging.  :)