Globba laeta

A large part of the original deciduous forest has been cleared or degraded, especially in the lowlands and foothills where the taxon was collected. The subsistence and commercial agricultural activities (cotton, rice, cabbage, coffee, lychee) of both upland shifting cultivators, and especially lowland Thai farmers, have been responsible for much of the recent degradation that has occurred inside and outside Thailand's protected areas. The increasing population has pushed itinerant farmers deeper into the forest. Itinerant hill tribes have settled illegally in many areas that are ostensibly protected. Riparian habitats, which were the first to be settled have been almost completely degraded. Much remaining forest has been selectively logged, has been damaged by burning and other disturbances and is significantly degraded. Bamboo thickets with few trees and savanna type woodland have replaced the original forest in many places. Other threats to the native flora include the increased used of agrochemicals, the spread of exotic invasive (e.g., Mimosa pigra) and road construction. Collections of the taxon in very disturbed deciduous forest, by a road and in bamboo thickets, seem to indicate that the taxon may be able to regenerate and persist in anthropogenically disturbed habitats and secondary vegetation. Its resilience to fires, set by hunters and farmers, which sweep the region annually is unknown.

This species has been collected in the Doi Kuhn Dahn National Park and has been observed close to the Chae Son National Park. The taxon is grown ex situ in the University of Aarhus (Denmark). In vitro culture of the taxon appears to have been investigated. Some of its nuclear DNA has been sequenced for phylogenetic analysis (Kafle 2004). It does not benefit from any legal protection in Thailand or Myanmar. Most of the region remains scientifically unexplored, especially in Myanmar. Field surveys and censuses are needed to determine the current range and size of the population. Extensive field work is reported to have been undertaken by Mark Newman and the revision of the genus for Thailand is nearly finalized (Larsen 2003, Larsen and Larsen 2006). The later should allow clarification of the conservation status of this species, in Thailand. The potential occurrence in Myanmar needs to be confirmed. The biology and ecology of the species should be studied. Seeds should be collected for germplasm conservation. Appropriate in situ conservation measures for this species should be designed according to the findings of these surveys and studies.