Harold Koopowitz is a well-known and respected figure in the orchid world. He is Professor of Ecology at the University of Irvine, California and a prolific author on conservation topics. His lecture on the threats to wild orchid populations and possible solutions was a long and gloomy story. In a nutshell, he believes that private collectors are the orchid’s best chance for long-term survival. I suppose there is evidence to back this up, considering that there are now more of certain types of endangered orchids in cultivation than ever existed in the wild. But if people like me are the orchid’s lifeline, I’m worried. My batting average on the death/survival ratio of orchids in my collection is not very good.
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