Coelogyne foxworthyi

This orchid had been recorded from Mt Pinatabu which is an active volcano. It produced the second largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century in 1991 and there was a large ash fall which covered vegetation. A large crater replaced the obliterated summit and many valleys were filled with deep deposits. Agriculture was disrupted and reforestation projects destroyed and it is suspected that no populations of this orchid survived near the summit. In the patches of forest that remain habitat is further degraded by firewood collection and this orchid is also regularly collected and traded during the flowering season (M. Agoo and D. Tiu pers. comm. 2016). On Mt Polis, although some vegetation remains, the mossy forest above 1,600 m is heavily logged and in 2012 it was observed that more areas of mossy forest were being cleared for agriculture along the roads and trails. Also cleared areas with newly planted vegetable patches were seen (Perez 2012). Illegal quarrying activities have also taken place here, with a temporary environmental protection order against unregulated quarrying being issued in 2015 and note is also made of increased settlement and vegetable gardening impacting on the mountain's ecology (Cabreza 2015). At the other known locality in Aurora Memorial National Park the high altitude and protected status of the area may minimise threats, although it was noted in 1999 that, in the park in general, deforestation rates were high, with habitat converted to agriculture and pasture and forest blocks eroded by shifting cultivation and fires (Birdlife International 2001).

Mt Polis is part of the Central Cordillera forest reserve. In 2001 it was recommended that Mt Polis be placed under the supervision of the National Integrated Protected Areas system (Cabreza 2015) but the outcome of this is not certain. Mt Kamatis falls within the Aurora Memorial National Park a 7,090 ha area established in 1941 (Bird Life International 2016) with a proposed extension to 78,678 ha and plans for the development and implementation of a protected area management plan (JRC 2016). There are no known conservation measures on Mt Pinatubo. Dendrochilum species are protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora legislation (CITES 2016). It is not thought that species is conserved ex situ (Sanders 2016). Further research is needed into the distribution, population status and trends, life history and ecology, and the specific threats and actions required for this orchid. Monitoring is likely to be necessary and further site protection, together with raising awareness of this endemic species, is recommended.