CITES and Slipper Orchids

An introduction to slipper orchids covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

What This Presentation Will Cover

• Introduction to slipper orchids

• Slipper orchids on CITES

• Implementing CITES for slipper orchids

Orchid Diversity

Why Protect Orchids?

Introduction to Slipper Orchids

What Are Slipper Orchids?

Cypripedium PaphiopedilumPhragmipedium

Slipper Orchids on CITES

Cypripedium PaphiopedilumPhragmipedium

Global Trade in Slipper Orchids

Major Exporter

Major Importer

Major Importer & Exporter

Source: UNEP-WCMC CITES trade data 1998-2002

What Needs a Permit?

Tissue Cultures

Slipper Orchids on CITES

Cypripedium

Cypripedium Characteristics – Flowers

Cypripedium Characteristics – Vegetative

Global Distribution of Cypripedium

Cypripedium species

30

1

20

10

0

Global Trade in Cypripedium

Major Exporter

Major Importer

Source: UNEP-WCMC CITES trade data 1998-2002

Major Importer & Exporter

Cypripedium lichiangense & C. palangshanense

Phragmipedium

Phragmipedium Characteristics – Flowers

Phragmipedium Characteristics – Vegetative

Global Distribution of Phragmipedium

Phragmipedium species

0

10

0

1

5

Source: UNEP-WCMC CITES trade data 1998-2002

Global Trade in Phragmipedium

Major Exporter

Major Importer

Major Importer & Exporter

Phragmipedium kovachii

Paphiopedilum

Paphiopedilum Characteristics – Flowers

Paphiopedilum Characteristics – Vegetative

Global Distribution of Paphiopedilum

Paphiopedilum species

20

1

10

0

Source: UNEP-WCMC CITES trade data 1998-2002

Global Trade in Paphiopedilum

Major Exporter

Major Importer

Major Importer & Exporter

China & Viet Nam

Slipper Orchids on CITES: Summary

Cypripedium PaphiopedilumPhragmipedium

Implementing CITES for Slipper Orchids

Enforcement

Enforcement - Checks

• Check

– Documents

– Country of origin

– Packaging

– Shipments

– Trade routes

Distinguishing Between Wild and Artificially Propagated Plants

Wild-Collected Orchids

Cypripedium - Wild or Artificially Propagated?

Previous several years

growth

Blackened bud

1 cm

Cut roots with die back

Rhizome is the same diameter

at each end

Cypripedium – Potential Illegal Trade

• Damaged or cut• Some new root growth

Paphiopedilum & Phragmipedium Wild or Artificially Propagated?

General Appearance

Roots

Leaves

Soil

Wild Artificially propagated

• Uniform shape and size• Clean and healthy

• Clean and healthy• May have shape of pot

• Lower leaves damaged or cut• Insect damage/mining burrows• Pitted due to desiccation• Presence of lichens

• Clean and undamaged• Not cut back• Little or no insect damage

• Only horticultural compost

• Habitat soil or substrate attached

• Irregular shape and size• Damaged and marked

Paphiopedilum & Phragmipedium Wild or Artificially Propagated?

Wild – roots Wild – whole plantWild - leaves

AP - leavesAP - roots AP – whole plant

Phragmipedium – Potential Illegal Trade

Paphiopedilum – Potential Illegal Trade

Implementation: Summary

Additional Slides

Exemptions

The CITES Nursery Registration System

The CITES Definition of ‘Artificially Propagated’

Promoting Sustainable Trade and Access to Breeding Material