Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africanews
Published on 2024-02-02 15:21:50
The 28th edition of the orchid festival in London is currently underway, and this year’s festival is celebrating the unique and diverse flowers of Madagascar. The island nation is home to an impressive number of plant types, with an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 different species, and surprisingly, 1 in 10 of those are orchids. This rich diversity is being showcased through the use of 5,000 flowers to create stunning displays at London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
The significance of orchids in Madagascar’s ecosystems cannot be understated, as they are considered a barometer of the island’s environmental health. According to researcher Landy Rajaovelona, orchids play a crucial role in the island’s ecosystems, as they are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions such as climate, drought, light, and humidity. The presence of these delicate flowers is an indicator of the overall health of the island’s natural environment.
The festival features not only displays of beautiful orchids but also incorporates elements of Madagascar’s unique wildlife, with the inclusion of Madagascan creatures such as ring-tailed lemurs, chameleons, and even the extinct Vorombe bird. Florists have skillfully recreated these creatures using leaves, bark, moss, and of course, orchids to add a vibrant pop of color. The elaborate planning and execution of this event take the whole year to come to life.
Kew’s orchid collection is an impressive one, consisting of 8,000 plants from 1,300 species. The horticultural team strives to utilize as many plants as possible from the Kew collection, supplemented by additional orchids sourced from external suppliers. Furthermore, Kew has been actively involved in Madagascar since 1986, with 40 researchers currently based at a site on the island.
Despite the celebration of Madagascar’s floral richness, the festival also serves as a platform to raise awareness about the threats faced by these delicate flowers. Habitat destruction, frequent fires, drought, logging, and illicit collection have made plants like orchids incredibly vulnerable in Madagascar. Shockingly, 228 of around 1,000 of Madagascar’s orchid species have been assessed and listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Researchers at Kew are actively working to address these threats and raise awareness of the plight of these endangered flowers. They are advocating for the protection and reintroduction of orchids in collaboration with local communities to ensure their preservation for future generations. The Kew Orchid Festival will continue until March 3rd and offers visitors a unique opportunity to not only appreciate the beauty of orchids but also learn about the important conservation efforts being undertaken to protect these fragile flowers.
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