Blooming underground trade

Hundreds of orchid plants for sale at a Bangkok market (Photo: Jacob Phelps)

A black market for wild ornamental plants is thriving in Southeast Asia. NUS scientists unearthed the hidden trade involving tens of thousands of flowers, including more than 300 species of wild orchids from neighbouring countries, based on an unprecedented survey on four of Thailand's largest markets.

Published in Biological Conservation, the study by PhD graduate Dr Jacob Phelps and Associate Professor Edward Webb from NUS Biological Sciences underscores the critical need for greater attention on the conservation of plant species threatened by the illegal wildlife trade.

Read about the research in the media article and Dr Phelps' blog.