Bulbophyllum aechmophorum

The drivers of forest change in Papua New Guinea's forests were identified as subsistence agriculture, logging, forest fires, clearance for plantations and mine-related forest clearance (Shearman et al. 2008). Satellite imagery shows that at two sites of collection nearby forest has been lost to small scale agricultural development. Shearman et al. (2008) include the Owen Stanley Ranges in a list of mountain ranges that have suffered especially large losses of montane forest, although the specific localities for this orchid in these ranges are unknown. No specific information was available, for the known sites for this orchid, in relation to the threat of fire, however, the likelihood of fire increases particularly in dry years and droughts associated with El Niño events. Impacts are becoming more frequent and severe and the area of Papua New Guinea's montane forests has been significantly reduced through burning (Shearman et al. 2008). There is a low frequency and diversity of epiphytic plants in many forests that have been burned (Johns 1989). The impact of drought itself may also cause decline in orchid populations (E. De Vogel pers. comm. 2017). Epiphytes are generally sensitive to disturbance and microclimate and secondary vegetation may not offer the diversity of sites available in old growth forest, although isolated remnant trees may form nuclei for recolonization in secondary forest (Hietz 1997). However, this orchid is noted to be a species of primary forests (Vermeulen 1993). The Owen Stanley ranges, and possibly other montane forests, may face a future threat from logging and mining operations (Wearing et al. undated) and two of the collection records fall within areas designated as logging concessions. Threats to the Lorenz National Park in 2017 included illegal activities, transport infrastructure, mining and Nothofagus dieback (UNESCO 2017). Species of the genus Bulbophyllum are popular in cultivation and may be targeted by orchid collectors, particularly as improvements in air transport have allowed other orchids from remote areas, such as the Highlands of New Guinea, to reach nurseries, for example in the U.S.A. within a few days of their collection from the wild (Cribb 1983) and collection from the wild is a potential threat to this species.

This species is conserved ex situ in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, UK (RBG Edinburgh 2016) and is also cultivated in Leiden Botanic Garden (de Vogel et al. 2017). It is reported to occur in the Sudirman Mountains (western portion of the Maoke Mountains), which are close to the Lorentz National Park, where extensive forests extend into the mountains and which is noted to be a globally significant large tract of intact tropical forest (UNESCO 2017). The type collection is also just to the northeast and it is possible that it may occur within this protected area. There are proposals to make the Owen Stanley Ranges a UNESCO world heritage site, as many natural systems are in good condition and human population density is generally low. Such a listing would support effective management and address threats from logging and mining proposals (UNESCO 2006). Surveys are needed to confirm the current distribution and population status and trends and further research is needed into the life history and ecology of this species and to identify any specific threats and actions required.