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Collier
County, Florida is the orchid capital of the nation with more
orchid species than any
other place in the country including Hawaii. And every single
one of those orchids is classified as either threatened or
endangered.
The
Native Orchid Restoration Project (NORP) was formed to help
these extraordinary orchid species through a variety of innovative
methods. Combining research on the key factors required for
successful orchid growth with historical data and a local
lab and greenhouse in the Florida Panther National Wildlife
Refuge, NORP will soon be able to help return native orchid
populations to healthier levels.
A separate stock of native orchids will be grown that can
be made available to private owners. Plans for the future
also include placing native orchids on the grounds of Caribbean
Gardens where visitors can readily appreciate the beauty of
these local species.
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Jay O'Neill
from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center states, "Our collaboration
with an organization like NORP is exciting not only because it provides
seeds and plant material for developing laboratory techniques but
they can provide the local expertise necessary to identify suitable
habitats for reintroduction and establishment of orchids."
Join
the Native Orchid Restoration Project!
Read
the media release of NORP's public announcement here
Roster of key NORP people
Status
of orchids in Collier County
Fascinating
orchid relationships
Join
NORP!
John Michael Zov's Symphony of Orchids
including samples
Announced
to the media for the first time on January 8, 2002 at Caribbean
Gardens in Naples, Florida, NORP is now gaining widespread interest.
The public was invited to meet the key
people involved in this new endeavor during Native Orchid Restoration
Day also hosted at Caribbean Gardens on February 3, 2002.
For
more information about joining NORP, click
here or call NORP president Lee Hoffman at (239) 430-8079 or e-mail
him by clicking here.
