Threats

Environmental Threats to Australia’s orchid species

Orchids have adapted to exist in a large range of distinct ecological niches. This allows them to compete effectively with the other native plants for nutrients through fungal symbiosis and specialised pollinators. However, this also leaves them highly vulnerable to changes in these regions. Australia has a high level of biodiversity with 89 distinct bioregions across its 7.7 million km2. Within these bioregions there are approximately 24,700 plant species of which 1790 are orchids. The number of plant species listed as threatened on the EPBC Act nationally increased from 1,252 in 2015 to 1,344 in 2020, significantly higher than in the preceding 5-years. Orchids are the most threatened group of flowering plants in Australia, 184 species of the 1,790 (roughly 10%) of all orchid species are listed as threatened. Of these 184 listed orchid species, 44 are listed as critically endangered, 96 endangered and 46 vulnerable.

The threats to orchids principally include land clearing, grazing, invasive species, changes in fire regime, tourism and recreation and illegal collection for black-market sales. Depending on their habitat some orchid populations will be exposed to just one of these threats, whilst some maybe exposed to them all. For example, orchids that grow in rocky, rainforest or wetland areas that are unable to be cleared have significantly less endangered orchids with only 15 threatened epiphytic species. Whereas the terrestrial orchids that occur primarily in temperate forests, shrublands and Mediterranean style climate have significantly higher endangerment rates as these areas have been extensively exploited for housing and agriculture. On average, each threatened species faces around 4 different threats. Many populations now exist only in uncertain environments, such as on private land, in roadside / rail reserves or on public land. This has been referred to as ‘local extirpation’, where species may still survive in protected locations (such as islands or fenced enclosures) but are no longer present across much of their former range.

Of the terrestrial orchids 165 species listed as threatened, of which 26% are critically endangered, 52% endangered and 22% vulnerable. Tasmania with 28 species threatened species had the highest proportion of orchids imminently at risk of extinction with 64% of those threatened in the state, listed as critically endangered. Followed by Victoria with 42 species listed 7% critically endangered, 60% endangered and 33% vulnerable. New South Wales follows with 33 species of threatened orchids of which 27% are critically endangered, 45% are endangered and 27% vulnerable. South Australia has 37 threatened species, of which 16% are critically endangered, 51% endangered and 32% vulnerable. Interestingly in Western Australia the south of the state with it’s Mediterranean climate has a significantly higher level of threatened orchids, than the hot rocky north.

In contrast less exploited areas such as, rocky areas, seasonal or internment wetlands or subtropical/tropical dry forest areas in Australia have significantly less endangered orchids with only 15 threatened epiphytic species. This includes 1 critically endangered, 6 endangered and 8 vulnerable species. Of the five lithophytic orchids listed, one is critically endangered (Oberonia attenuata), two are endangered (Dendrobium biggibum and Phalaenopsis rosenstromii) and two are vulnerable (Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii and Sarcochilus hartmannii). Despite less habitat disturbance in the areas where these orchids grow, the easier to grow varieties such as Dendrobium biggibum and Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii and Sarcochilus hartmannii are highly valued and therefore more vulnerable to illegal collection.

Our terrestrial species are specifically vulnerable to habitat modification because they require symbiotic relationships with specific types of ‘mycorrhizal’ fungi to grow and germinate, and many are pollinated by a unique species of pollinator. If both requirements are lost the orchid cannot survive. This also makes them incredibly difficult to grow in cultivation. Research over the last 15 years has improved orchid propagation and translocation techniques, enabling us to identify where the necessary pollinators live and capture and grow the required mycorrhizal fungi.

Land Clearing, grazing

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) listed land clearance was as a key threatening process in 2001. Over 100 million hectares (45%) of Australian forests have been cleared, and much of what remains has been degraded since European settlement. Land clearing still remains a problem with 10 million hectares having been cleared since 2000, including 3 million hectares of remnant forests, mostly eucalypt woodlands. The population of Australia increased from 24 million people in 2016 to 25.6 million as of 30 June 2020. This puts increased pressure to continue land clearing to allow for more housing, infrastructure and agriculture. Beef production has resulted in Queensland having the highest rates of deforestation in Australia. Deforestation remains a problem in New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and the Northern Territory. The list of global deforestation hotspots list 24 countries with Australia being the only ‘developed’ country on the list.

Land clearing kills plants and animals during the removal of at least 70% of the native vegetation. This is replaced by crops, improved pasture, plantations for paper and wood, gardens, houses, mines, buildings, dams and roads. As orchids have evolved to have highly specific localized populations, they are particularly at risk from land clearing due to removal of the niche environment and that habitat being broken into small fragments between developed sites (habitat fragmentation). The small fragments have more edges that are at higher risk of weed invasion and grazing by allowing accessibility for wild herbivores. Soil disturbance and invasive weeds can impact the symbiotic fungi the orchids require. Even the decrease in the other native flora can affect the distribution of the pollinator decreasing orchid reproduction. Being more exposed in smaller areas can also allow increased access to tourists which can mean the orchids can be trampled or harvested illegally.

Invasive species

Introduced species can trigger competition for light and space and outcompete certain native orchids. Besides, the fungal community, critical for orchids, can be shifted or considerably diminished through the presence of invasive species. In addition, invasive plant species can act as pollination generalists, potentially dominating the diet of pollinators and therefore precluding orchids from being pollinated.

Changes in fire regime

Traditionally Indigenous fire practices involved lighting low fires in small areas on foot, with matches or, traditionally, with fire sticks. These fires are closely monitored, ensuring that only the underbrush is burnt. Since European settlement, the fire management has changed dramatically. With less fire management, there has been an increase in frequency and severity of fire which can bake the plants and seeds. This is highly detrimental compared to the cool controlled burns that ensure that seeds and nutrients in the soil are not destroyed. Climate change is also having an impact with warmer temperatures extending the fire season, and areas such as rainforest that were previously less prone to fire are now more susceptible to blazes.

The higher intensity fires can destroy the seed bank resulting in a decreased ability for the natural ecosystem to regenerate causing declines in native species. This allows other plant species to enter the area completely changing the habitat.

Tourism, recreation and Illegal collection

Impacts on natural and cultural heritage can occur from direct use and the development of supporting infrastructure, or indirectly – for example, through the introduction of invasive species. The nature of the impact depends on where it occurs and the level of interest: small visitor numbers can potentially have a major impact in sensitive areas such as high-quality conservation areas or wilderness areas; large visitor numbers can have significant effects at any site, especially when this level is not planned for.

Orchidelirium was first termed in the Victorian era when discovering and collecting orchids reached extraordinarily high levels. In the 19th century explorers were sent to all parts of the globe in search of new varieties of orchids. It was first limited to the rich that could afford to hire the explorers to bring back the plants. The most famous orchid seller was Frederick Sander, known as the “orchid king”, who had his nursery in St Albans, England. Orchids became the most prized plants and quickly became the status symbol amongst aristocracy. Many people died in this madness from conflict with locals, misadventure or through rival collectors. Extensive environmental damage also occurred from collectors urinating on the plants collected by their rivals, to stripping the habitat bare. New exotic orchids were most often sold at auction in London, fetching extraordinary prices. One dendrobium was sold at an auction while still attached to the skull of the human whose grave it had been robbed from. Sadly, initially most of the plants died as the rich did not know how to care for the plants in cold or even temperate climates. However, it did bring about significant advances in horticultural techniques allowing them to grow these beautiful plants. The first book detailing the extensive trial and error of orchid care The Orchid Grower’s Manual was published by B.S. Williams in 1871.

In 1973 the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was established making it illegal to harvest and trade orchids from the wild. Nevertheless, orchid mania still exists today with many endangered orchids still being traded on the black market, contributing to the loss of species in the wild. In 2010 new species of slipper orchid, Paphiopedilum canhii, was discovered in Vietnam, it was collected to near extinction within six months.

The invention of social media has only made it easier for the orchid black market to thrive. The black market can have open or closed groups on FACEBOOK, Etsy, Instagram and eBAY with direct messaging, and has made it much easier for sellers to receive payments. A 2015 study of social media posts found that up to 46% of trade occurring in orchid groups was in wild-collected plants. Orchid collectors who buy online have a preference for rare species, which is bad news for Australia given more than 90 per cent of the country’s 1700 orchids are not found anywhere else. Our conservation efforts that are being established to grow endangered orchid tubers are also under threat, exemplified by the theft of 900 orchid tubers from Kings Park.

ANOS Inc would like to make a timely reminder about safely posting your orchid encounters on social media. Everyone one loves to see the photographs you have taken on FACEBOOK and Instagram. However, the photographs may contain coordinates, where they were taken, embedded in them. Black-market poachers can access this information and another plant vanishes.

Safety Measures

Please ensure you have turned off any GPS co-ordinates on your phones or cameras, ensuring your photos when posted do not have co-ordinates attached. Don’t post the location of the site online and be careful who you tell the location to. If you think you have seen ads for wild orchids on eBAY or other online selling sites, you should advise the selling platform, police and local Park Rangers.

ANOS Inc encourages our member to continue to enjoy the amazing range of Native orchids found in Australia whilst trying to save these captivatingly beautiful plants.