I just returned from the Pacific Orchid Expo in San Fransisco. While I certainly did my share of shopping, the real highlight of the trip was the chance to chat with some other angraecoid lovers in person. And, I always love to see the collections of other angraecoid growers--even if it does make me a bit green with envy. I have "online known" Jacob and Brenda for some time now, but it was a pleasure to talk with them in person. Not surprising at all, they were also enthusiastic about the possibility of a free-trade orchid nursery in Madagascar.
These two friends are particularly willing to share cultural information and any bit of knowledge they have learned. The world, and the orchid world, could use more people like them.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
As this is the first blog post, I feel obligated somehow to be profound or announce something monumental. Reyna's Angraecoid Alliance, Inc. was formed to further the conservation of a unique group of orchids known and angraecoids. These beautiful plants originate in tropical Africa and Madagascar. Many are either threatened or endangered and habitat continues to be destroyed at a disturbing rate.
Reyna--that's me--has a collection of several hundred orchids. Of that, about 300 of them are angraecoids from a variety of genera: angraecum, aerangis, jumellea, mystacidium, neobathiea, plectrelminthus, sobennikoffia. I also have some of the weirder and rarer genera such as angraecopsis, cryptopus, microcoelia, neobathiea, rangaeris and etc.
Several months ago, my sweet husband asked me what I would like to do to change the world. (He may now be sorry he asked. :) ) I want to protect habitat in Madagascar--where many of these orchids originate. My experience living abroad for more than a year, in another third-world country, showed me that there is no way for a conservation initiative to be successful unless it also has a social aspect. So, I want to create a business that provides economic benefit to a Malagasy community, while at the same time protects the habitat of the orchids. (And of course, protecting orchid habitat also protects the biodiversity of all the other flora and fauna in the area.)
I have started contacting other NGOs who have a long-standing presence in Madagascar to get their input and advice. There is no sense jumping in without having done my research. I have discovered several interesting initiatives for anyone who is interested.
Conservation International offers you the opportunity to sponsor an acre of land for $15.
http://www.conservation.org/act/get_involved/protect_forests/Pages/deforestation.aspx
The Royal Botanical Gardens -- Kew allows you to adopt a seed from an endangered plant species for 25 pounds. Or you can sponsor an entire species for 1000 pounds.
http://www.kew.org/support-kew/adopt-a-seed/index.htm
More to come . . .
Reyna--that's me--has a collection of several hundred orchids. Of that, about 300 of them are angraecoids from a variety of genera: angraecum, aerangis, jumellea, mystacidium, neobathiea, plectrelminthus, sobennikoffia. I also have some of the weirder and rarer genera such as angraecopsis, cryptopus, microcoelia, neobathiea, rangaeris and etc.
Several months ago, my sweet husband asked me what I would like to do to change the world. (He may now be sorry he asked. :) ) I want to protect habitat in Madagascar--where many of these orchids originate. My experience living abroad for more than a year, in another third-world country, showed me that there is no way for a conservation initiative to be successful unless it also has a social aspect. So, I want to create a business that provides economic benefit to a Malagasy community, while at the same time protects the habitat of the orchids. (And of course, protecting orchid habitat also protects the biodiversity of all the other flora and fauna in the area.)
I have started contacting other NGOs who have a long-standing presence in Madagascar to get their input and advice. There is no sense jumping in without having done my research. I have discovered several interesting initiatives for anyone who is interested.
Conservation International offers you the opportunity to sponsor an acre of land for $15.
http://www.conservation.org/act/get_involved/protect_forests/Pages/deforestation.aspx
The Royal Botanical Gardens -- Kew allows you to adopt a seed from an endangered plant species for 25 pounds. Or you can sponsor an entire species for 1000 pounds.
http://www.kew.org/support-kew/adopt-a-seed/index.htm
More to come . . .
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