Orchid Obscurity: Understanding Domestic Trade in Wild-Harvested Orchids in Viet Nam

Unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade is a well-known conservation issue, but there are still large gaps in our understanding of how chains operate for the majority over-exploited products. In particular, large-scale global plant under-reported under-researched, this even more pronounced when takes place within country’s borders. A clear example orchids, all species which listed by Convention on International Trade Endangered Species Wild Fauna Flora (CITES). Although countries such as Viet Nam known hotspots collection wild orchids international horticultural trade, little about plants move from to end-consumer, what role played domestic markets sustainability trade. We use mixed-methods approach determine structure key trading areas Northern Nam, thematic framework identify five groups actors wild-harvested orchids. occurs both domestically internationally, underpinned demand rare, plants. An important first step address unsustainable recognise it major growing develop diverse approaches that consider complexity supply involved. It imperative scale process understood, its impact long term these assessed make informed decisions effective interventions take into account full chain.