Table Of ContentSelbyana 26(1,2): 367-368. 2005.
NORTH AMERICAN REGIONAL ORCHID SPECIALIST GROUP
INAUGURAL MEETING, MONDAY, MAY 17, 2004,
MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS, SARASOTA, FLORIDA, USA
MARILYN H.S. LIGHT
174 Jolicoeur St., Gatineau, Quebec, Canada J8Z lC9.
Email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT. The North American Regional Orchid Specialist Group (NAROSG) was established in 1999
by the IUCN/Species Survival Commission/Orchid Specialist Group to serve an action-planning function
toward the conservation of native orchids in the continental USA and Canada. After several years of email
communication, the inaugural meeting of NAROSG was held in conjunction with the Second International
Orchid Conservation Congress at Selby Gardens in May 2004. Six action items were selected, ranging
from website additions and flagship orchid species to Red-listing and building a knowledge database.
Key words: North America, native orchids, conservation planning
INTRODUCTION Chair Marilyn Light provided an overview of
NAROSG, including the role of the group and
The inaugural meeting of the North American its action-planning mission. She mentioned the
Regional Orchid Specialist Group (NAROSG) three selected flagship orchid taxa for North
convened on May 17, 2004, in conjunction with America-Epipactis gigantea, Cypripedium re
the Second International Orchid Conservation ginae, and Dendrophylax lindenii, which were
Congress hosted by the Marie Selby Botanical selected by NAROSG in 2000 as orchids rep
Gardens in Sarasota, Florida. NAROSG is one resentative of conservation challenges in the Re
of eight regional groups within the 200-member gion. Selection criteria developed by NAROSG
OSG, which in turn is one of 120 specialist included (l) attributes to attract public interest,
groups that advise the IUCN Species Survival (2) existing program of artificial propagation, (3)
Commission. The NAROSG was established in representatives of a range of habitat and ecosys
late 1999, and during the first months of oper tems in the Region, and (4) illustration of the
ation, the members established criteria for se range of threats to orchid survival, such as de
lecting flagship taxa and then selected three spe velopment for agriculture, habitation, or indus
cies: the stream orchid (Epipactis gigantea), the try, forestry practices, and drainage of wetlands
showy lady's slipper (Cypripedium reginae), and (Light 2001). She noted that long-term studies
the ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii). The have been reported for less than 50% of North
ghost orchid served as the IOCC II logo. All of American orchid taxa, and a communication gap
this work was can-ied out via email correspon remains between orchid researchers and conser
dence. Like all IUCN/SSC/OSG regional orchid vation managers.
specialist groups, the NAROSG follows the ac
tion plan laid out in the Conservation Action
PROGRESS REPORTS
Plan published in 1996. The NAROSG has been
reporting annually, and some of these reports The Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) at
have appeared in the Orchid Specialist Group http://www .centerforplantconservation.org/ was
News, and an article by Light entitled, "North suggested as an appropriate depository for na
American Regional OSG," appeared in the tive orchid population data, especially if a CPC
Spring 2001 issue of Species 35: 28. The meet link can be added to the OSG website, a sug
ing held during the lOCC II, however, was the gestion that Vitt offered to investigate. Philip
first face-to-face meeting of the group. Cribb, Chair of the Orchid Specialist Group, re
Eleven NAROSG members and 13 observers ported that the Orchid Conservation News is
participated in the meeting, which focused on a now available online with links to published lit
lively discussion of orchid conservation and erature http://go.to/orchid-specialist-group. Lit
group activities. Pati Vitt served as secretary for erature pertaining to orchid conservation re
the meeting. Items added to the circulated agen mains scattered, and much is not getting into
da included the Orchid Specialist Group website management plans. Vitt mentioned the possibil
http://go.to/orchid-specialist-group and the In ity of establishing a searchable online bibliog
Situ Conservation Committee. raphy and offered to look into a grant from the
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368 SELBYANA Volume 26(1,2) 2005
IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Servic and Cribb; building a knowledge database and
es) at http://www.imls.gov/grants/. establishing a CPC contact, Vitt.
Marketing of the conservation message was Discussion continued on the role of NAROSG
discussed along with the possibility of using the and its membership. While the Group is not an
region's flagship orchid taxa for fundraising. The orchid society, close contact with appropriate
NAROSG offered to compose letters supporting native orchid groups such as the Native Orchid
grant proposals, and the OSG offered to help Conference Inc. is to be encouraged. David Mc
with proposal review. Ken Roberts suggested Adoo, president of the Native Orchid Confer
approaching the Canon Inc. regarding the pos ence Inc., spoke about his group.
sibility of featuring orchids in the company's Red-listing (having a species listed on the Red
popular profiles of animals, as seen in National List prepared by the IUCN Species Survival
Geographic Magazine. Cribb agreed to sign a Commission) has proved to be a politically use
letter to Canon. ful conservation tool that is independent of fed
The group committed to placing profiles of eral listing. Training in the Red-listing process
the flagship orchid species online, where stu is available and can be arranged. Only 23 orchid
dents and teachers can access the information. species are presently Red-listed worldwide, with
Ron Coleman offered to work up Epipactis gi none from North America. The Nature Conser
vancy has its own listing, but the group con
gantea using a model prepared by Ken Roberts
curred that, for the purposes of NAROSG, spe
for Dendrophylax lindenii. Light has the infor
cies are best evaluated using IUCN criteria.
mation for Cypripedium reginae. The material
NAROSG will seek listing for North American
will be submitted to the OSG webmaster.
taxa that meet the global selection criteria. Cole
Action planning was discussed and the fol
man will explore the listing process, using Hex
lowing priorities established: (1) Website addi
alectris revoluta var. colemanii.
tions including flagship profiles and a report of
A motion to thank the organizers of the
the inaugural NAROSG meeting, (2) Liaison
IOCC II for an excellent effort on behalf of or
with the Native Orchid Conference Inc., (3)
chid conservation was made and carried. Ray
Red-listing, (4) Contacting companies such as
mond Tremblay, chair of the In-situ Conserva
Canon, (5) Building a knowledge database, and
tion Committee, which provides tools to both
(6) Marketing and communication. Based on
amateurs and professionals to assist in field data
these priorities, six action items were selected.
collection, encouraged attendance at the in-situ
Responsible for website additions are Marilyn meeting scheduled for the following evening.
Light (Cypripedium reginae and Meeting Min Phillip Cribb expressed his thanks to Marilyn
utes), Ronald Coleman (Epipactis gigantea), and Light for chairing the meeting and announced
Ken Roberts (Dendrophylax lindenii). Liaison that the next Orchid Specialist Group meeting
with the Native Orchid Conference Inc. will be will be held in conjunction with the World Or
the responsibility of Ken Cameron; Red-listing, chid Conference in Dijon, France, in March
Light and Coleman; contacting Canon, Light 2005.
