Journal Number 91
June 2004

EDITORIAL

What Can We Learn From The Orchid Thieves?
By Ian St George

In the wake of the Czechs, how should we respond now when strangers from overseas ask us to guide them to see native orchids? It might save some embarrassment if the Group had a formal response to such enquirers. Here's a start...

1. If you have any suspicion about their motives, or if you suspect they have taken orchids, inform the Group's conservation officer Peter de Lange. He can liaise with Customs and WEG.

2. You usually won't have grounds for such suspicions - and lets face it you would trust the dean of a medical school, wouldn't you? Well, wouldn't you? So you might tell them formally about the revised NZNOG Code of Conduct (or even hand them a copy).

3. Point out it is illegal under international CITES agreements to take out of NZ any part of any orchid without proper permission; the fines for doing so are heavy.

4. Don't take anyone you don't completely trust to see rare species. Middleman profit depends on the vanity, either of scientists (the first to describe an orchid has their name attached to it forever) or of collectors (unscrupulous wealthy collectors will pay a lot to add to their collections).

But forget "orchidomania" or "orchidelirium": most orchid thieves are not passionate-though- eccentric-and-slightly-misguided-orchid-lovers; they are common criminals, out for a quick illegal buck, and they pose a serious threat to rare plants worldwide. They are no better than those who export live kea, kaka and tuatara, no better than those who trade in rhino horns, elephant tusks or tiger penises.

We can lock our doors and windows, but we won't keep the professional crooks out: nor will we ever detect all the orchid thieves. But you can help deter the naive amateur and you might just once in a while catch a real baddy. - ED
 

The New Zealand Native Orchid Group Code Of Conduct:

• Regard the orchid tuber as sacred and leave it undisturbed. Take only photographs if a plant is scarce in a locality. If you need a specimen for identification, take the minimum - don't take the whole plant unless there are more than twenty; don't take more than 5% of any one plant; don't take flowers or fruit if there are few present; don't take duplicates. It is illegal to take specimens of any native plant from a Protected Natural Area without official permission.
  
  
• Make sure you know whether it can be grown, and if so what its requirements are, before you take even a "common" native orchid for cultivation; where possible use seeds.
  
  
• Preserve the habitat of all native plants: tread with care to minimise compaction of soil and disturbance of swamp habitat; "garden" minimally before taking photographs and do replace shelter if you have bent surrounding vegetation away.
  
  
• Don't introduce any plant into wild habitat without proper authority.
  
  
• Do tell the conservation people if you find a new site for a rare plant. Inform those who might unwittingly destroy a site with normal maintenance activities. Take care who you tell about the whereabouts of a rare plant, and don't take big groups to visit.
  
  
• Tell park or property administrators when they need to protect orchid habitat by clearing scrub, maintaining tracks, spraying weeds or burning off.
  
  
• Respect the rights and wishes of landowners and those of conservation people who ask you not to visit a site at certain times.
  
  
• Make little impact on the environment; dispose of rubbish responsibly.

... To which we might now add ...

• Do not try to export any orchid or part of an orchid from New Zealand.
  It is illegal under international agreements to do so.