Protecting Colombia’s extraordinary orchid diversity at La Reserva Orquideas, Antioquia: Plant ecotourism and horticulture as strategy for rural development

The Colombian Orchid Society through La Reserva Orquideas will be implementing plant ecotourism in a highly diverse region of Colombia where the conflict has marginalized communities. In addition to contributing to conservation efforts through the development of sustainable economies using endemic orchids with potential in horticulture for the Colombian Andean region. Our solution aims to help preserve orchids and their ecosystems by involving local communities of Jardin, Antioquia in the creation of in situ and ex situ conservation strategies. We want to offer communities an alternative way of subsistence through tourism, cultivation and the legal trade of orchids.

1. To prioritize native orchid species with potential for sustainable use in plant ecotourism and horticulture using the criteria proposed by Castellanos-Castro4.
2. To cultivate and propagate in-vitro seeds of promising orchid species by training communities in in-vitro culture and vegetative propagation of species. We have experience in invitro cultivation of orchids and have a series of videos in YouTube that are very popular among the orchid community (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMBczrN1tj0&t=694s).
3. Implement a pilot program for the conservation of orchids through plant ecotourism and in-situ and ex-situ reproduction strategies, integrating the use of biotechnological processes with the active participation of the community.
4. C. Castellanos-Castro and G. Torres-Morales, Orquídeas de Cundinamarca: conservación y aprovechamiento sostenible., Primera Edición. Bogotá D.C., 2018.