ORCHID SPECIALIST GROUP AT A GLANCE
The Orchid Specialist Group (OSG) is part of the IUCN Species Survival Committee and it is an international network of professional and non-professional volunteers who are committed to the conservation and sustainable utilisation of orchid species and their habitats.
The OSG was first established in 1984 and now has approximately 100 members from around the world, including many leading scientists, with expertise in the various disciplines that are vital in implementing effective orchid conservation strategies.
*denotes a member who has two roles
IUCN Species Survival Committee
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) is a global environmental organization. It unites governments and civil society groups to protect nature and promote sustainable use of resources. It is most famous for creating the Red List of Threatened Species.
The IUCN SSC (Species Survival Commission) is a global network of over 10,000 experts that works to stop the loss of plant and animal species and help them recover.
The Species Conservation Cycle
The conceptual framework for the IUCN SSC Network activities. Its main purpose is to guide efforts for valuing and conserving biodiversity through three essential components that are linked to each other: Assess, Plan, and Act.
Implementation requires three transversal components: Network, Communicate, and Mobilise Resources.
Center for Species Survival
As part of the IUCN SSC in 2025 the Center for Species Survival Wilhelma (CSS Wilhelma) was established as collaboration between IUCN SSC and the Zoological and Botanical Garden WIlhelma in Stuttgart (Germany). The center has a dual taxonomic focus on reptiles and orchids. With the appointment of the Orchid Officer in 2026, CSS Wilhelma supports communication and targets of the OSG.
ORCHIDACEAE
With > 28,000 species, Orchidaceae are one of the largest families of plants, and they occur in a wide range of ecosystems and habitats on all continents apart from Antarctica. A charismatic group, many species are important in horticulture, food and medicine.
Many orchid species are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, illegal trade and unsustainable harvest. The OSG is dedicated to their conservation.