Cambodia & Economy: Maximising the economic potential of the Kingdom's orchids

The Secretary of State at the Department of the Environment, H.E. Sam Inn, recently expressed his optimism about the economic potential of orchids.

According to the Secretary of State, Cambodia is home to more than 500 species of orchid, compared with around 12,000 worldwide

“In the past, these flowering plants were among the most important species for the royal family, and today they are widely used in gardens, landscaping and decorations,” says H.E. Sam Inn.

According to a study by the Ministry of the Environment, around 40% of orchid species are found in the Cardamoms, 35% in coastal areas, 13% in forested areas and 10% at the confluence of the Mekong.

Because of the potential market for this plant, Cambodia has created the Sok An Phnom Kulen research and conservation centre covering 2,000 hectares in Siem Reap province. The aim is not only to develop the cultivation of orchids, but also to conserve and study them.

Located in the Phnom Kulen Jayavarman-Norodom National Park, the current orchid research and conservation centre is the only orchid research facility in the country.

The centre covers a vast area of 2,020 hectares in the Banteay Srei district of Siem Reap province, including a 31.09-hectare orchid dome zone, around 60 kilometres from Siem Reap town

Created at the end of 2019 thanks to a partnership between the General Secretariat of the National Council for Sustainable Development (CNDD), the Siem Reap Provincial Department of the Environment and the owner of the Bloom Garden greenhouse, the centre aims to promote orchid conservation and serve as a hub for biodiversity research, education and ecotourism.

Kesor Kol's orchids are under serious threat from trafficking, particularly to neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. The centre plays a crucial role in combating these threats by undertaking conservation efforts and raising awareness of the importance of protecting orchid species. It has several facilities to support its research and conservation efforts. These include greenhouses for growing and studying orchids, laboratories for scientific research and educational facilities for visitors and students.

The centre is also a tourist destination, and the Ministry plans to set up laboratories on the site to provide services for national and international researchers. The centre has already cooperated with foreign experts, in particular those from the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris, to organise training courses on techniques for collecting orchid specimens.

In May 2023, the Ministry also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Royal Botanic Gardens of the United Kingdom (Kew Gardens) to strengthen cooperation in research, identification and the sharing of knowledge and technologies

Of particular importance is the first research facility, considered to be the cornerstone of the centre's activities. Plans are underway to build a library in this facility, providing space for exhibitions that offer visitors an insight into the research work. There are also plans to create a seed bank.

The transformation of the park into an eco-tourism destination was officially approved last November when Prime Minister Hun Manet designated Phnom Kulen as a top destination.