Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The informal commercialization of wild orchids in central Veracruz, Mexico, poses significant conservation challenges but also offers opportunities for sustainable development through orchid-based tourism. This study evaluated the potential of native orchid tourism as an alternative livelihood for local actors currently engaged in the wild orchid trade. Using a qualitative method approach, 17 semi-structured interviews, direct observations, and species documentation were carried out across eight municipalities. Snowball sampling was employed due to the clandestine nature of the trade. A total of 51 native orchid species were identified, of which 31 are actively traded—many under conservation risk categories. Four actor types were characterized: gatherers, nurserymen, collectors, and companies. Nurserymen and collectors demonstrated the greatest willingness and capacity to transition toward tourism-based conservation activities, whereas gatherers remained economically dependent on wild collection. Identified threats include overharvesting, deforestation, and weak enforcement of trade regulations. The findings highlight the need for policies that integrate legal propagation, certification schemes, and community-based tourism initiatives to reduce pressure on wild populations while supporting local economies. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of orchid trade networks, extending beyond market studies to explore their tourism potential and role in biodiversity conservation.
Source: Sustainability
DOI: 10.3390/su17198801
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W4414652409