World Orchid Conference 2026: conservation at the heart of the conversation

Now that the 24th World Orchid Conference has concluded, it is clear that Dresden hosted far more than a spectacular orchid exhibition. WOC 2026 brought together researchers, conservation practitioners, botanical gardens, specialist growers, artists, judges, and orchid enthusiasts from around the world in an event that successfully combined scientific exchange with the beauty and excitement of the exhibition halls. The program made this balance explicit, with strong attention not only to taxonomy, breeding, horticulture, and display, but also to habitat protection, restoration, and the future of orchids in the wild.

One of the clearest messages to emerge from the conference was that conservation is no longer peripheral in the orchid world. It is central. Across talks and posters, participants returned again and again to the same essential point: if orchids are to survive in meaningful diversity, in situ conservation must remain the priority. Protecting species in their ecological context, preserving the relationships orchids maintain with pollinators and fungi, defending habitats from degradation, and involving local communities are all indispensable. Ex situ work remains extremely valuable, but at its best it supports (as part of what is "integrated conservation"), rather than replaces, conservation in nature. This focus was visible in several particularly relevant contributions.

A notable example was Jean-Michel Hervouet’s presentation, In situ conservation of wild orchids in Madagascar. Hervouet, speaking not only from the perspective of the Fédération France Orchidées but also through his involvement with the Association des Amis de la Forêt d’Ambodiriana-Manompana (ADAFAM), brought welcome attention to Madagascar and to the importance of connecting orchid conservation with local communities. That emphasis felt especially significant, because it reflected one of the strongest underlying messages of the conference: orchid conservation works best when it is rooted in places, habitats, and people, rather than treated as an abstract scientific concern.

Another notable contribution came from Bijaya Pant, whose presentation, Orchid Conservation and Sustainable Use Initiative: Research and Community Engagement, highlighted the importance of linking conservation to research, propagation, and local participation. This kind of integrated model is especially important in regions where orchids are both culturally valued and under pressure, and where conservation outcomes depend on cooperation between institutions and communities.

The poster section reinforced the same themes. Particularly striking was the poster by Tonny Henry Kasinja, Conservation of Endangered Orchid Species in Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda by FAWE Students. The project focused on endangered orchids from Nyungwe Forest National Park and combined field surveys, in vitro propagation, education, and reintroduction. It was an excellent example of how conservation can be both scientifically meaningful and socially transformative, engaging students directly in species recovery and awareness-building.

The conference also showed clearly that ex situ conservation has a vital supporting role. Seed banking, in vitro propagation, living collections, and carefully managed cultivation can all strengthen research, education, and, where appropriate, restoration or population reinforcement. One poster explicitly stressed the value of an integrated approach in which living collections can support propagation, reintroduction, education, and community engagement. This was a recurring and welcome message throughout the meeting: ex situ collections matter most when they are connected to conservation planning in the wild. In this context, Wilhelma zoological and botanical garden from Stuttgart (Germany) appeared as one useful example of an institution trying to connect ex situ safeguarding with broader conservation aims. In her presentation, Stefanie Reska discussed the development of Wilhelma’s global conservation role, including fundraising, habitat conservation, and support for orchid-focused initiatives. The program also linked Wilhelma to Palau, through the presentation by Stefanie Reska and Jasmin Langhammer on establishing an ex situ Palau orchid collection, followed by Heinfried Block and Christy Powell on Palau Orchid Conservation (with whom the co-chair of the IUCN Orchid Specialist Group in situ conservation subgroup Benjamin Crain collaborate). Together, these contributions suggested how collaborations between gardens, local experts, and partner institutions can help connect living collections with field-based priorities.

A final point worth mentioning is the presence of the other co-chair of the IUCN Orchid Specialist Group in situ conservation subgroup, Jacopo Calevo, at the conference and exhibition. He also exhibited a plant (Serapias neglecta) that had been propagated years ago within a conservation project, and that plant was later awarded by the judges. It was a nice, concrete example of how conservation and responsible collecting can coexist. When propagation is done ethically, transparently, and with long-term conservation aims, cultivated plants can reduce pressure on wild populations while also helping keep rare species visible and appreciated within the orchid community. The awarded plant shown in Dresden offered exactly that kind of message: a practical reminder that conservation material can continue to educate, inspire, and even stand out on the exhibition bench years later.