Global orchid conservation and extinction risks

Wild orchid species are facing significant threats from habitat loss, invasive plants, and international trade. Research into the Dracula orchid genus, native to Ecuador and Colombia, shows that since 1981, 91% of known species in this genus have entered legal international trade. While these plants are often declared as artificially propagated, researchers have noted difficulties in verifying if they are nursery-grown or extracted from the wild.

In Brazil, specifically within the Atlantic Forest of Paraná, extinction risks are heightened by deforestation, climate change, and illegal harvesting. A scientific review suggests that between 55% and 69% of all orchid species globally may be threatened with extinction.

Legal and environmental factors further complicate conservation in Brazil. Current legislation reportedly prevents volunteers from rescuing epiphytic orchids—which live on host trees—during authorized vegetation clearing for infrastructure projects. Because these plants rely on the specific ecosystems of mature trees, the destruction of forests leads to high mortality rates for these species.