Calanthe ecallosa

Although this orchid is found within the Halimun Salak National Park there are noted to be ongoing threats to this park area which may impact on this species. The corridor area of the park, particularly, has been fragmented and forests reduced in quality and extent by local communities building houses and roads, gathering fuel wood and expanding agricultural land. Much illegal logging occurs in the corridor and Salak areas, but less around Mt Halimun. Illegal quarrying also occurs and there is a need for improved management. (Endangered Species Team 2005). Within the park area there are paddy fields, tea plantations, mixed farming, settlement and plantation forest. Only c. 6% is primary forest and 18% secondary forest and shrubs and secondary species dominate the corridor area. Deforestation is opening the canopy allowing the growth of a different ground flora such as rattan and also invasive species such as East African Maesopsis eminii and tropical American Calliandra calothyrsus (Calliandra houstoniana var. calothyrsus (ILDIS 2015) (Endangered Species Team 2005).

In the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants (1997) this orchid was listed as Rare, suggesting a small world population, not at that time considered Endangered or Vulnerable, but at risk. Often the categorisation of Rare implies a localised distribution within a restricted geographical area or habitat, which would seem applicable for this species, as specimens are only known from a relatively small area of montane forest. The two recent collection records are thought to have been from within the Halimun Salak National Park. Mount Hailmun was declared a protected forest under the management of the Netherlands government (1924-34) and was established as a national park in 1992. Mount Halimun and Mount Salak with a corridor area were merged in 2003. The total area is 113,357 ha and forest cover is estimated to be about 60,000 ha (Kubo and Supriyanto 2010). Management recommendations include increased community understanding and awareness, improved monitoring and security to prevent illegal logging and conversion and restoration of native species in areas dominated by invasive species (Endangered Species Team 2005). A change from fence-and-fine to participatory conservation mechanisms in the park are reported to have led to improved relations between park rangers and local communities and improved cooperation in conservation measures (Kubo and Supriyanto 2010). This orchid is listed under Appendix II in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES 2016) to give protection from trade incompatible with species survival in the wild.