Representativeness of the Collections Científico ‘Ex Situ’ of the Orchidaceae Family Between Andean Forest and Paramo in the Department of Cundinamarca, Colombia
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Representativeness of the collections Científico ‘Ex Situ’ of the Orchidaceae family between Andean Forest and Paramo in the department of Cundinamarca, Colombia Karen Sofia Gil: Ecologist, Young researcher, Sciences Faculty, Pontificia Javeriana University, Bogotá. Mail: [email protected] Jorge Jacome Phd.: Assistant professor, Biology Department, Ecology and Systematics Unit, Pontificia Javeriana University, Bogotá. Mail: [email protected] Abstract: In Colombia, orchids are mainly concentrated in the Andean Re- gion. In Cundinamarca, the most densely populated department and the most deforested in the country, it was identified a network of actors involved in ex situ collections management and in conservation of orchids. It was performed a preliminary list of taxa of Orchidaceae family located in an al- titudinal range of 1800 to 3900 meters in Cundinamarca, and registered in the most important herbariums of the department, as a tool to capture quantitative information. The representativeness of the Orchidaceae family is determined by genera of the most striking orchids with potential for com- mercialization, including Cyrtochilum, Epidendrum, Masdevallia, Odontoglos- sum and Pleurothallis. The 60% of the species of andean forest and paramo in Cundinamarca are represented in private collections, and 20% in public ones in the Botanical Garden of Bogota Jose Celestino Mutis. According to the research, it should meet the need to increase the representativeness of the groups Orchidaceae department, out of preference for ornamentals and extend database of threatened species in cultivation to benefit seed produc- tion and ex situ conservation programs. Key words: Orchidaceae, Cundinamarca, Representativeness, Andean Fo- rest, Páramo, Ex situ Conservation. Introduction: The largest diversity of or- 15% of the species are found in the chids concentrates in the tropics, and páramo. Of the registered species for it is estimated that Colombia has more Colombia, 1,544 are endemic, distribu- than 4000 species grouped in 235 ge- ted mainly in the Andean region which nera (Ortiz, pers. conv. 2012). Colom- concentrates 93% of the endemic spe- bian species are concentrated mostly cies (Sarmiento 2007). Areas that ex- in the Andean region (87%), where hibit a particularly high abundance of • • orchids follow the general pattern of situ collections (IUCN 1996). Popu- plant diversity; from the standpoint of lations propagated ex situ can redu- the altitudinal range the largest diver- ce the need for the collection of wild sity is found between 1,800 and 2,000 individuals for marketing, exhibition meters (Sarmiento 2007). and research purposes, while contri- buting to the education of the public In addition to their slow natural pro- (Orejuela 2010). These collections pagation, factors such as the conti- are like an insurance policy for the fu- nuing degradation of ecosystems; ture; they are the basis for restoration deforestation for agriculture, cattle and reintroduction programs (Sea- raising and urbanization; and the ton et al., 2010). excessive collection for horticultu- ral and commercial purposes, cause Botanical gardens can be considered the reduction and disappearance of the first institutions involved in ex some wild populations and species situ conservation of plant resources. of Orchidaceae family (Ortiz 1995). However, conservation in botanical The Colombian Andean region ranks gardens has presented a number of second in deforestation with 578,000 problems arising from their irregu- hectares lost every year as stated by lar distribution around the world, CAEM- Corporación Ambiental Em- serious financial and management presarial, in conjunction with the problems and lack of government CAR- Corporación Autónoma Regio- support. In tropical countries, whe- nal de Cundinamarca. Cundinamarca re the greatest numbers of species is the most densely populated de- are found, is where less botanical partment and according to estima- gardens exist (Maxted et al., 1997). tes by DANE, the total population is Botanical gardens in Colombia frame 12.272.620 inhabitants (est. 2013). their action in meeting international policies that provide operational gui- The task of preserving threatened flo- delines for conservation, education ra groups such as orchids has moti- and sustainable use of plant biodi- vated the design of conservation stra- versity. For this purpose they have tegies that involve the preservation of signed the Convention on Biological species directly at the place of origin Diversity (ratified in Colombia throu- (in situ) or outside it (ex situ) (Orejuela gh Law 165 of 1994), the Convention 2010). If a remnant population is too on International Trade in Endange- small to support the species, it is likely red Species of Wild Fauna and Flora that the only way to avoid extinction is - CITES - and national legislation on to maintain a number |of individuals conservation, protection of the envi- temporarily in artificial conditions, a ronment, protected areas and sustai- strategy which is known as ex situ con- nable use (Olaya et al., 2002). In 2001 servation (Primack et al, 2001). Bogotá’s Botanical Garden, named after José Celestino Mutis, began One of the most common examples the process of structuring living co- of this kind of conservation are bota- llections named CEPAC, Colecciones nical gardens, which can also coor- Especializadas para la Conservación. dinate their activities with other ex Five botanical families make up the Orquideología XXXI - 2 / 2014 CEPAC: Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, collection of secondary data. During Lamiaceae Cactaceae and Araceae. it those involved in the management The five collections of living plants and cultivation of ex situ collections Científico serve as a source for propagation in of orchids present in Cundinamarca order to conserve rare or endange- were identified and contacted. red species and are part of the ex situ conservation strategy of botanical The second phase, field work, con- gardens (Santos et al, 2009.). sisted in the consultation of the da- tabases in Universidad Javeriana Her- In Colombia, and particularly in the barium (HPUJ), Herbario Nacional department of Cundinamarca, or- Colombiano (COL), Herbarium of the chid conservation is sustained and Botanical Garden José Celestino Mu- supported by orchid societies and tis (JBB), Herbario de la Universidad the people behind them. Depending Distrital (UDBC), Herbario de la Uni- on the quality of information sha- versidad de los Andes (ANDES), and red between the parts involved, the La Salle University Herbarium (BOG). members of orchid societies and José Then all orchid taxa found in Cundi- Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden namarca and collected in their natural specialize in certain groups or ge- habitat at an altitudinal range of 1800- nera of orchids, creating efficient te- 3900 m were selected. chniques for growing and managing these, using them for commercial The National Herbarium (COL) was purposes, horticulture, conservation, consulted online, [accessed 1 October ecotourism and public education. 2012]. University of the Andes Her- barium (ANDES) and the Pontificia The members of orchid societies and Universidad Javeriana (HPUJ) were Bogotá’s José Celestino Mutis Botani- visited personally, and taxa from José cal Garden have the potential to make Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden a significant contribution to the conser- Herbarium (JBB) were received by vation of threatened species of orchids email. Most taxa recorded in the (JBB) in Cundinamarca. For this reason, this come from private donations, confis- research project seeks to make a preli- cation, seized and bought plants. minary assessment of the representati- veness of orchids of the Andean forest For this research project all taxa and páramo of Cundinamarca in the ex that were not collected in field trips situ collections associated with the ma- or through university institutional nagement and propagation of orchids. arrangements were eliminated. In The success of an ex situ conservation other herbaria only the taxa collec- strategy can be facilitated by the com- ted in situ were considered, due to munication and cooperation of local the existence of records of species producers, botanical gardens and re- collected with orchid growers, ha- searchers (Primack et al, 2001). ciendas, or that bloom in Bogotá but originate in different departments, Methodology: The research project has not Cundinamarca, and at a different three main related phases. The first altitude origin than the set range phase, exploration, is the review and (1800 - 3900 m). • 5 • With the identification of the actors tabase, preliminary listings and repre- involved in the management of ex situ sentativeness in living collections. collections of the family Orchidaceae in Cundinamarca, the list of registered To determine the degree of threat to orchids in the herbaria with some of the species of orchids, the Red Book of their synonyms was distributed to the Plants of Colombia: Orchids, Part One, owners of the collections, in order to as- was consulted; considering only taxa of sess representativeness in living collec- the genera in the altitude range of 1800- tions. The collections of the Botanical 3900 m present in Cundinamarca. Garden José Celestino Mutis were eva- luated through the list of orchids regis- Results: A network of actors, both tered in the Illustrated Guide to CEPAC, private and public, involved in the edited by the same botanical garden. management of ex situ collections and orchid