Orchid extinction risks rise in Brazil due to legal and environmental factors

A scientific review led by researchers from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) indicates that between 55% and 69% of all orchid species globally may be threatened with extinction. In the Atlantic Forest of Paraná, Brazil, the situation is particularly critical due to deforestation, climate change, and illegal harvesting for clandestine trade.

Research highlights a specific legal bottleneck: during authorized vegetation clearing for infrastructure projects, epiphytic orchids attached to tree trunks often perish because current environmental legislation prevents volunteers from rescuing the plants.

As epiphytes, approximately 75% of orchids live on host trees without extracting sap, relying instead on light and air moisture. This lifestyle makes them highly vulnerable to the destruction of mature forests, as the loss of a single tree collapses a miniaturized ecosystem that takes years to develop.