The Orchid Garden Conservation Network is a growing international platform dedicated to supporting orchid gardens, reserves, researchers, educators, and local communities working to conserve native orchids within their natural ranges.
Orchids are among the most diverse and ecologically intricate plant families on Earth, but many species are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, illegal collection, and the disappearance of the fungi, pollinators, and forest conditions they depend on. Around the world, many people and institutions are already working to protect them, but these efforts often remain isolated, underfunded, or difficult for others to find.
OGCN was created to help change that.
Our goal is to connect orchid conservation initiatives across the world and give greater visibility to the gardens, reserves, institutions, and individuals protecting native orchids where they belong. By bringing these efforts together, OGCN helps strengthen collaboration, share knowledge, identify conservation gaps, and support practical action in orchid-rich regions.
At the heart of our work is a circa situm approach to conservation. This means supporting the cultivation and protection of orchid species within or near their natural ranges, often in gardens, reserves, or living collections that remain connected to the ecosystems, climates, and communities where those species occur. This approach complements both in situ conservation in the wild and ex situ conservation in distant collections, while keeping local people, local knowledge, and local ecosystems central to the work.
OGCN is built around four guiding actions: conserve, grow, connect, and activate. We aim to conserve native orchids and their companion ecosystems, help gardens and reserves grow their capacity, connect people and institutions working toward similar goals, and activate real conservation through research, propagation, education, community engagement, and responsible nature-based tourism.
The network is open to botanical gardens, private reserves, orchid societies, universities, conservation organizations, educators, students, growers, and local stakeholders who are committed to protecting native orchids and the habitats they depend on.
By mapping and connecting orchid conservation efforts around the world, OGCN seeks to build a more visible, collaborative, and effective future for orchid conservation—one rooted in place, partnership, and long-term care for the living landscapes where orchids belong.
Our Mission
To connect and support orchid gardens and conservation projects that protect native orchids within their natural ranges.
Our Approach
Circa situm conservation: keeping orchids, ecosystems, and local communities connected.
Who We Work With
Gardens, reserves, universities, orchid societies, researchers, educators, students, conservation groups, growers, and local communities.
Our Vision
A global network of orchid conservation sites working together to protect native species, share knowledge, and inspire action.