I’m currently in the process of putting together a “Useful links” page, but I might as well start with a useful link to a site full of useful orchid links!  OrchidWire (who have recently listed us, so please comment about us on their site!) have loads of links to everything from orchid sellers to the IUCN orchid specialist group.

While in the Sikkim Himalayas I conducted a research project into orchid diversity with altitude. The results are due to be published, as well as being on display at the RHS London Orchid Show in 2010. Below is a pre-publishing preview.

Investigating orchid populations across the sikkim himalaya

This research links orchid migration observed in the Himalayas with Global warming.

One of the major contributing factors to the extinction of orchid species is Global warming. Many orchids are happy when in a very narrow temperature band (as many of you will have witnessed when growing orchids at home). In many mountainous regions such as the Sikkim Himalayas, this temperature is achieved by altitude – the higher you go, the cooler it is.

The problems arrive in more flat areas where the orchids have no option to migrate to a higher altitude. In these areas, the orchids cannot adapt to the quickly changing temperature and as a result, many have been driven to the edge of extinction.

Tomorrow (Thursday 15th October) is Blog Action Day 2009, where bloggers across the world unite to blog about one issue: Climate Change.

This is an issue that affects us all, but particularly the world of plants and orchids. Orchid populations can be used to prove global warming, and climate change can be held responsible for driving many orchid species to or near to extinction.

So join us tomorrow for Blog Action Day 2009 for a special day of climate change – through the eyes (or leaves) of an Orchid!

Partly because of the 2 year anniversary of our expedition to South Africa and partly because it’s on my to-do list, I’ve compiled a page of all the material including photos and press releases of our Cape Town project, both past present and future.

Expect more pages popping up over the next few months as I gather together all of the articles and photos from our other projects across the globe, but in the mean time, head on over to South Africa and test your Afrikaans (or your favourite translator) as well as having a look at photos from our display stand and visit to the Erica Primary School.