Bulbophyllum antennatum

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). It is likely that in parts of its range some of these threats may be operational, for example, in the Eastern Highland forest clearance, as a result of agricultural activity, is visible in satellite imagery, although higher montane forests are often less easily accessible and threats less intense. The likelihood of fires increases particularly in dry years and droughts associated with El Niño and global warming 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). The impact of drought itself may also cause decline in orchid populations (E. De Vogel pers. comm. 2017). Species of the genus Bulbophyllum can be in demand for 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 orchid has been recorded from Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Chimbu Province, Papua New Guinea and it also occurs close to Lorentz National Park (Papua Province, Indonesia) and it is thought likely that it would be found within it. It is not known to be conserved ex situ (BGCI 2017) although it has been cultivated in Leiden Botanic Garden in the past. Although this appears to be a widespread orchid relatively little information is available and research is needed to provide information about its biology and ecology of this and any specific threats that may be affecting it. Further surveys would be useful to confirm the current distribution and the population status and trends.