Globba reflexa

Much of the original vegetation throughout northern Thailand has been affected by logging, clear cutting and burning for over a century. Evidence of massive teak forest destruction can be seen in numerous cut stumps and an abnormally high density of bamboos (Maxwell 1997). Deciduous secondary growth in the form of Dipterocarp-oak vegetation is common (Maxwell et al. 1995, 1997). The subsistence and increasingly commercial agricultural activities (cotton, rice, cabbage, coffee, lychee) of both upland shifting cultivators, and especially lowland Thai farmers, has more recently affected natural vegetation both inside and outside Thailand's protected areas. Other threats to the native flora include the increased used of agrochemicals, the spread of exotic invasives, such as Mimosa pigra, and road construction. However, collections of the taxon in bamboo thickets and secondary Dipterocarp-Oak vegetation suggest a good resilience to anthropogenic disturbance. Fires set by hunters and farmers are common in the region. However, this species may have some tolerance to this. It was found to be more frequent and abundant in a frequently burnt forest plot as compared to a plot which had been protected against fire for 28 years, in a study in the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park (Kafle 2004). Extraction of plants, even within National parks, appears to threaten many narrow endemic Thai plant species, especially ferns and orchids (Maxwell et al. 1995). Gingers have enjoyed popularity as ornamental plants in Asia and the Far East for centuries and ornamental gingers have rapidly increased in popularity in the western world in the past few years (West Demmy and Burch 1998). This has promoted an increase in illegal collecting. Many Globba species have high potential value as an ornamentals (Larsen and Larsen 2006). Whether the taxon is collected for that purpose and the potential impact of rhizome extraction on the population is not known.

This species has been collected within several conservation units. Surveys and censuses should be conducted in the region to determine the current range and size of the population. Zingibericeae has not been well explored in the field as collections were avoided by conventional workers due to the large herbaceous size and fleshy rhizomes which posed a problem in the preparation of herbarium specimens. Additionally, their occurrence as undergrowth in sometimes inaccessible forest areas, and the often short period of flowering, hinders collection of materials with adequate character details (Prakash and Mehrotra 1996). Parts of the region remain botanically undercollected. 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). Raising awareness among the local community and law enforcement within protected areas preventing habitat disturbance and plant extraction of rare endemics is essential. The population should be regularly monitored. Seeds should be collected as part of ex situ conservation measures.