For most of its existence the New Zealand Native Orchid Group has rather disparaged the notion
of cultivation, preferring to observe and record the natural history, ecology, structures and
taxonomy of plants in the wild.

We have too often observed the sites of rare orchids after they have been ravaged by would-be growers, and we have tended to lump all growers as thieves. Or at best, fools, who do not realise that many native orchids are difficult, if not impossible to grow in cultivation. Or hybridisers who risk the escape of vigorous  hybrids into the wild at the expense of native species.

We have to rethink that attitude.

Clearly there is a deep and serious interest in horticulture and hybridization, and in fact it is the major driving force for many of the Australian native orchid groups affiliated to the Australasian Native Orchid Society (ANOS).

More importantly, perhaps, this originally horticultural interest, with the skills in growing native orchids developed for that purpose, can now be a powerful tool for conservation.

Species thought impossible to grow just a few years ago can be grown successfully using specialised techniques. Transplantation from threatened sites to safe sites has become far more successful in Australia, by following a few simple rules. Seed propagation of many species, including the rare and endangered, is not just a possibility, but a reality. Seedlings thus propagated have been re-established in the wild.

Imagine a seedpod of Anzybas carsei, its thousands of seeds not wasted in the wild, but sown out into hundreds of culture flasks; months later the protocorms pricked out onto new media, and later still the little seedlings planted into pots for transfer later still to restored wetlands.

We need to celebrate the people using these techniques and start putting their expertise to use in the conservation cause.

Thanks to those who have contributed their experience and wisdom in the series of papers on the next 4 pages.