Cambodia sees the economic potential of orchids and is promoting the conservation and breeding of the plants for sustainable long-term benefits.
Secretary of State at the Ministry of Environment H.E. Sam Inn shared the efforts recently with optimism of the orchid market now and in the future.
According to H.E. Secretary of State, Cambodia is home to over 500 species of orchids, while there are about 12,000 of them in the world.
In ancient times, the flower plants were among the largest species in the royal family, and currently they are very common for home gardens, designs, and decorations.
Based on a study by the Ministry of Environment, about 40 percent of orchid species are found in the Cardamom Mountains (including Bokor Mountain), 35 percent in coastal areas, 13 percent in forest areas, and another 10 percent at the confluence of the Mekong River.
With the lucrative market of the plant, Cambodia has established the Sok An Phnom Kulen Research and Conservation Centre on 2,000 hectares of land in Si
em Reap province, not only to expand the breeding of orchids but also to conserve and research them.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse