Boesenbergia violacea

Forests and rivers in the region are in a state of rapid ecological decline caused by human over-exploitation (Thompson 2006). The Khorat plateau has been extensively deforested and original montane vegetation has been converted to scrub or degraded forest. Current threats to the native flora include shifting cultivation even on steeper slopes due to the lack of land to support increasing populations, and loss of habitat caused by hydro projects, road construction and illegal logging (Wikramanayake et al. 2001). The ability of this species to persist in disturbed habitats and degraded grasslands is unknown. However, this species was collected within the National Park of Phu Rhua which infers some protection from such threats. The Park has been subject to encroachment and lack of management. The local people living in and around the park are heavily dependent on park resources such as forest products. Threats to the park have been intensified with pressure on land for agriculture and settlements linked with road networks (Trisurat 1987). Gingers have enjoyed popularity as an ornamental plant in Asia and the Far East for centuries. Ornamental gingers have rapidly increased in popularity in the past few years, in the western world (West Demmy and Burch 1998), which has promoted an increase in illegal collecting. It is not known whether the population suffers from collection for ornamental purposes.

This species was collected within the National Park of Phu Rhua (IUCN category II). The park has an area of 140 km² and was created in 1979, to protect biological diversity, to stimulate the expansion of recreation and tourism, and to provide opportunities for conservation education and scientific research. However, conflicts between the local population and the park administration could threaten the management and conservation of the area's biological diversity, with problems of encroachment and poaching. The taxon does not benefit from legal protection, in Thailand. The region has had little botanical exploration (Wikramanayake et al. 2001) and many of the table mountains are still undercollected (Larsen 2002). Sites of historical collections and potentially suitable habitats in northeastern Thailand and Lao PDR should be surveyed and censused to determine the current range and population size of this recently described species. This species is cultivated ex situ, at the University of Aaarhus (Danmark). Seeds should be collected for germplasm conservation.