Colombia orchid sanctuary collects and clones endangered species
Deep in Colombia's northwestern forests, an orchid enthusiast has gathered a colorful collection of nearly 25,000 specimens, some of which he is cloning to protect them from extinction. Around the world, the unique flowering plants are increasingly threatened by the slashing down of forests, where most orchids are found. Agricultural technologist Daniel Piedrahita, 62, has made it his life's mission to preserve the flowers at his sanctuary dubbed "The Soul of the Forest" in La Ceja, a town in the department of Antioquia. Colombia, which will host the COP16 UN biodiversity summit later this year, has the world's largest number of orchid species, and new varieties are regularly discovered.
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00:00This is my center, this is my center of pleasure, this is where I isolate myself, this is where
00:12I connect with nature, I am a field.
00:15We have plants from all over the world, from all parts of the world, including this one,
00:35which is a Malva, from the Iquiana Valley, which is one of the flagship flowers of Peru,
00:40since it is produced or is in its natural habitat in the forests of Machu Picchu.
00:47We want to reproduce Lycaste skinneri, this Malva seagull, because I want to take it to
01:14the forests of Guatemala to reintroduce this species back into its natural habitat.
01:21That is our obligation and our function.
01:44A genetic bank, which I have the responsibility to take care of, not to let any plant die
01:54and that each plant reproduces perfectly.
02:14© transcript Emily Beynon