Orchid flower (Phalaenopsis amabilis). This type of orchid can be found from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines to Australia. In the forests of Borneo, it has been estimated that 2500 to 3000 orchid species grow in the wild. (Credit: Courtesy Wikimedia commmons, photo under GNU Free Documentation license)

Wild Orchids In Borneo: Is There Time To Save Thousands Of Species From Extinction?

ScienceDaily (July 22, 2008) — Borneo (Kalimantan) is the third largest island in the world. It is rich with a variety of indigenous orchid species that grow in the forests. Borneo's rain forests are also home to some extremely rare species of orchids, all highly valued for their exotic aromas and aesthetic beauty. It has been estimated that 2500 to 3000 orchid species grow in the forests of Borneo.

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Borneo's orchids are also endangered, a result of the loss of natural habitat from fire, forest damage, and illegal logging. Increased exploitation of the forests of West Borneo, including gold mining and illegal burning, has led to the certain extinction of hundreds of orchid species. According to a Global Forest Watch 2002 report, Indonesia is experiencing one of the most dramatic losses of forestland in the world. Reports showed that at the current rate of loss, Borneo's forests could vanish completely by 2010.

Economic factors, including illegal collecting and selling of wild orchids by domestic or foreign "orchid hunters", along with increasing consumer demand for orchids, also contribute to the endangerment of Borneo's native orchids.

Compelled by concern for the demise of Borneo's native orchids, Chairani Siregar of the College of Agriculture at the University of Tanjungpura (Indonesia) undertook a 3-year study to locate and record endangered native orchid species in West Borneo. According to Siregar, "until recently, there were few records kept of the orchids native to West Borneo. For this reason, research was conducted to identify and create an inventory of all orchid species that exist (in West Borneo) before they and their habitats become extinct. The study was done in 10 counties and one municipal city in West Borneo. Orchids found were identified and recorded by species. A total of 197 species of orchids were identified."

Siregar is committed to cultivating all vulnerable and endangered species of orchids before they become extinct, adding that "local government intervention and participation in conservation, cultivation and marketing of orchids are necessary" for the popular flowers' survival.

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Journal reference:

1. Chairani Siregar. Exploration and Inventory of Native Orchid Germplasm in West Borneo, Indonesia. HortScience, Online 1 April 2008; 43: 286-583 (2008) [link]

Adapted from materials provided by American Society for Horticultural Science.

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American Society for Horticultural Science (2008, July 22). Wild Orchids In Borneo: Is There Time To Save Thousands Of Species From Extinction?. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/07/080717110241.htm

Hari Lingkungan Hidup Sedunia, World Environment Day 2008

Oleh Andi Gunawan

Hari Lingkungan Hidup Sedunia diperingati setiap tanggal 5 Juni, penetapannya dimulai sejak tahun 1972 melalui Sidang Umum PBB (Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa) dan menetapkan tanggal tersebut sebagai hari lingkungan hidup sedunia. Pada tahun yang sama dibentuk UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) yang bertanggung jawab terhadap peringatan World Environment Day setiap tahunnya di berbagai negara.

Maksud dari adanya peringatan hari lingkungan hidup sedunia adalah untuk meningkatkan kesadaran bagi siapa saja dalam menjaga lingkungan dan meningkatkan perhatian pemerintah diberbagai negara dalam mengatasi masalah lingkungan.

Aksi nyata pemerintah dan masyarakat dalam menjaga lingkungan.adalah hal yang sangat penting, mengingat bumi yang kita tempati telah menjadi renta sebelum waktunya akibat ulah manusia. Penebangan liar menyebabkan hutan gundul, longsor dan banjir, sampah yang tidak bisa di daur ulang, eksploitasi terhadap isi perut bumi yang berlebihan, pencemaran udara yang mengakibatkan global warming serta pencemaran lainnya, semuanya itu adalah sumbangan manusia bagi kehancuran bumi dan manusia itu sendiri.

Akibat masalah lingkungan yang tidak terjaga, telah kita rasakan hari ini, udara menjadi lebih panas, cuaca yang sulit diprediksi berakibat buruk pada pertanian (gagal panen), dimasa yang akan datang tidak menutup kemungkinan pulau-pulau akan tenggelam, negara-negara pantai, wilayahnya akan menyusut, kekurangan air bersih dan masih banyak lagi ketidaknyamanan yang dirasakan manusia.

Tema hari lingkungan hidup sedunia 2008 yang ditetapkan oleh UNEP (Badan Lingkungan Hidup Dunia) adalah “Co2 Kick The Habit, Toward a Low Carbon Economy”, disesuaikan dengan kondisi di Indonesia tema itu menjadi “UBAH PERILAKU DAN CEGAH PENCEMARAN LINGKUNGAN”.

Akankah hari lingkungan hidup sedunia ini menggugah manusia menjadi lebih bijak dalam menjaga lingkungannya dari berbagai pencemaran?? Akankah manusia yang hidup hari ini mampu mewariskan kondisi bumi (lingkungan) sama dengan hari ini, lebih baik ataukah lebih buruk??? Mari kita jawab pertanyaan itu dengan aksi nyata dalam kehidupan kita sehari-hari.

Sebuah tantangan menarik bagi Anda dan kita semua, bagaimana membuat lingkungan (bumi) menjadi lebih baik dimasa datang …

Selamat Hari Lingkunga Hidup Sedunia, World Environment Day 2008

Dibawah ini informasi tentang tema Hari Lingkungan Hidup Sedunia yang masih relevan hingga saat ini :

Tema Hari Lingkungan Hidup Sedunia dari tahun ke-tahun

 2007 – Melting Ice – a Hot Topic??

 2006 – Deserts and Desertification – Don’t Desert Drylands!

 2005 – Green Cities – Plan for the Planet!

 2004 – Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive?

 2003 – Water – Two Billion People are Dying for It!

 2002 – Give Earth a Chance

 2001 – Connect with the World Wide Web of Life

 2000 – The Environment Millennium – Time to Act

 1999 – Our Earth – Our Future – Just Save It!

 1998 – For Life on Earth – Save Our Seas

 1997 – For Life on Earth

 1996 – Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home

 1995 – We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment

 1994 – One Earth One Family

 1993 – Poverty and the Environment – Breaking the Vicious Circle

 1992 – Only One Earth, Care and Share

 1991 – Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership

 1990 – Children and the Environment

 1989 – Global Warming; Global Warning

 1988 – When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last

 1987 – Environment and Shelter: More Than A Roof

 1986 – A Tree for Peace

 1985 – Youth: Population and the Environment

 1984 – Desertification

 1983 – Managing and Disposing Hazardous Waste: Acid Rain and Energy

 1982 – Ten Years After Stockholm (Renewal of Environmental Concerns)

 1981 – Ground Water; Toxic Chemicals in Human Food Chains

 1980 – A New Challenge for the New Decade: Development Without Destruction

 1979 – Only One Future for Our Children – Development Without Destruction

 1978 – Development Without Destruction

 1977 – Ozone Layer Environmental Concern; Lands Loss and Soil Degradation

 1976 – Water: Vital Resource for Life

 1975 – Human Settlements

 1974 – Only one Earth

Kota-kota yang menjadi tuan rumah peringatan hari lingkungan hidup sedunia

 2007 – Tromsø, Norway

 2006 – Algiers, Algeria

 2005 – San Francisco, U.S.

 2004 – Barcelona, Spain

 2003 – Beirut, Lebanon

 2002 – Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China

 2001 – Torino, Italy and Havana, Cuba

 2000 – Adelaide, Australia

 1999 – Tokyo, Japan

 1998 – Moscow, Russian Federation

 1997 – Seoul, Republic of Korea

 1996 – Istanbul, Turkey

 1995 – Pretoria, South Africa

 1994 – London, United Kingdom

 1993 – Beijing, People’s Republic of China

 1992 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 1991 – Stockolm, Sweden

 1990 – Mexico City, Mexico

 1989 – Brussels, Belgium

 1988 – Bangkok, Thailand

 1987 – Nairobi, Kenya