Philippine orchids exhibit Opens at Copenhagen Botanical Museum  

22 February 2007 – Philippine Chargé d’Affaires in Sweden Marian Jocelyn Tirol-Ignacio of reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that a photographic exhibit “Endemic Orchid Species of the Philippines ” was successfully opened on 9 February 2007 at the Botanical Museum in Copenhagen in commemoration of the 60^th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Denmark .  

Organized by the Embassy in cooperation with the Botanical Museum and Garden in Copenhagen , the event was graced by Hon. Morten Meldgaard, Head of the Natural History Museum of Denmark, the Ambassadors and other members of the Diplomatic Corps, officials from the Danish Government and members of the Filipino community in Sweden and in Denmark . The Embassy was represented by First Secretary and Consul Tirol-lgnacio.  

The exhibit was conceived as an educational exhibit on Philippine environment and culture. With Australian orchid expert Jim Cootes as the curator, the photographs were provided by eminent orchid experts from around the world that include David P. Banks, Peter Duong, Ron Parsons, Andre Schuiteman, David Titmuss, Danilo A. Tiu, Dr. Jaap Vermeulen and Ed de Vogel. Guides from the Filipino community in Copenhagen who are fluent in English and Danish assisted the guests in answering questions on the Philippines , its culture and the environment.  

In his remarks during the opening of the photograph exhibit, Dr. Olle Haman, Head of the Botanical Museum and Garden, noted that the exhibit represented a renewed emphasis given by the Danish Government on environmental concerns. He added that in the previous week, Danish Minister on the Environment and Nordic Cooperation Connie Hedegaard gave a press conference at the Botanical Museum and Garden on new initiatives in the area of biodiversity.  

Dr. Henrik Pedersen of the Botanical Museum also spoke on the importance of endemic species to nature conservation. "In recent orchid conferences, it has been persistently advanced that one of the major challenges today is to make scientists, private orchid enthusiasts and governmental bodies join forces to increase awareness and attention to rare endemic orchids and to the vulnerable ecosystems that they require,” he noted. He also explained that endemic species are particularly sensitive to deforestation and gradual environmental change, as well as to excessive collecting for commercial purposes, and that a way to gradually increase the protection of endemic species and their habitats is to put the subject on the political agenda, such as through educational exhibits like the “Endemic Orchid Species of the Philippines.” The exhibit runs until 28 February.  

The term "endemic" means that a given species is restricted to a limited region or locale. Nearly 75% of the approximately 1000 Philippine orchid species are endemic. END

/jay

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