Guwahati: The Imphal Valley in Manipur, a key part of the biodiverse Indo-Burma hotspot, is facing a severe conservation crisis as the illegal trade of wild orchids flourishes in local markets. A study published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa has revealed the alarming extent of this unregulated trade, calling for immediate regulatory intervention to protect these valuable species.
Researchers Kamei Kambuikhonlu Kabuini and Dr. Maibam Dhanaraj Meitei from Manipur University identified 82 species of wild orchids from 33 genera being traded in Imphal Valley markets between 2022 and 2023. Some of these orchids, such as Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum, Renanthera imschootiana, and Vanda coerulea, are protected under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. Despite their protected status, these species are openly sold without any regulatory oversight, threatening their survival in the wild.
The study, titled Unregulated Wild Orchid Trade in Manipur: An Analysis of the Imphal Valley Markets from the Indo-Burma Hotspot, underscores the socio-economic significance of this trade. Wild orchid collection provides essential income for local tribal communities, particularly from the Kuki and Naga ethnic groups. However, destructive harvesting methods, including the felling of host trees, are depleting native orchid populations and degrading habitats. Collectors, often villagers aged between 30 and 50, acknowledge the unsustainability of their practices but cite economic necessity as the driving force behind their actions.
Seven threatened species were found to be collected from the wild and sold locally, with three of these species—P. hirsutissimum, R. imschootiana, and V. coerulea—falling under Schedule VI of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Endemic species such as Arachnis senapatanum were also found in the trade. The researchers noted that enforcement of legal protections is lacking, allowing the trade of these orchids to continue unabated in markets across Imphal Valley. Sellers operate freely, even with orchids protected by domestic legislation, posing significant risks to the survival of these species.
The study also explored the dynamics of the orchid trade, revealing that prices vary based on rarity and visual appeal. Common species such as Coelogyne alba and Liparis resupinata are sold for INR 30–50 per piece, while rarer orchids like Cymbidium elegans and V. coerulea command prices between INR 100–500. Pishumthong Bazaar emerged as the primary hub for this trade, while smaller markets in Naoremthong, Lamlong, and Sekmai also saw trading activity, albeit less frequently. Among surveyed buyers, only 33% were aware of the threatened or rare status of the orchids they purchased, highlighting a significant gap in public awareness about the legal and ecological implications of the trade.
The implications of this unregulated trade are dire. Orchids play a crucial ecological role, and their decline could have far-reaching consequences for the region’s biodiversity. The researchers emphasized the urgent need for measures to curb the trade and conserve the species. They recommend strengthening protected areas by expanding conservation zones to cover key orchid habitats, which could help reduce illegal harvesting. Establishing community conservation reserves with local participation was proposed as a strategy to encourage sustainable practices among collectors.
Additionally, public awareness campaigns are vital to educating both sellers and buyers about the ecological and legal consequences of trading in wild orchids. The study also called for the introduction of mass propagation techniques such as tissue culture and micropropagation. These methods could offer sustainable alternatives to wild harvesting, meeting market demand while providing economic opportunities for local communities.
India is home to around 1,484 orchid species, with the northeastern states representing a biodiversity hotspot that hosts 856 species. Manipur alone boasts 407 orchid taxa from 95 genera. Orchids have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times, with several species mentioned in Ayurveda. However, illegal trade for use in local traditional medicine and international demand, especially for Chinese herbal medicine, is driving many rare and threatened species towards extinction.
Of the 1,295 orchid species found in India, belonging to 179 genera, most are listed under Appendix II of CITES, restricting their international trade. Despite this, high demand persists in the Indian market. In 2018–19 alone, orchid cut flowers worth INR 2,321.84 lakh were imported into India. In contrast, local dealers and sellers in northeastern states, including Manipur, continue to rely heavily on wild harvesting, as mass-scale orchid production through micropropagation remains underdeveloped in the region.
Manipur orchids face additional threats from deforestation caused by jhum cultivation, charcoal harvesting, and forest fires. Without effective monitoring and sustainable practices, the unregulated collection of wild orchids will push more species toward extinction, jeopardizing both the environment and the livelihoods of local communities dependent on this trade.
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