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To conserve southern African indigenous orchids in their natural habitat.

To engender a real interest in indigenous orchids which will render them valuable and worthy of protection.

WOSA supports and partners in efforts to preserve orchid habitats and works with land managers and owners to create conservancies and reserves as well assisting with restoring indigenous orchids where populations have declined. WOSA aims to establish seed and fungi collections to support research and conservation.

To develop protocols and procedures for the propagation of indigenous orchids to assure successful establishment and maintenance in natural habitats where populations are declining or have been lost due to development.

Indigenous orchids are a natural treasure and their survival can only be assured by an effective education program to elicit the support of the public, Government, agriculture and industry. This will be achieved by informative articles in the media, social networking, exhibitions and active engagement with all roll players.

Wild orchids have highly complex reproductive systems ( often dependent on a specific pollinator ) and interesting system for nutrition ( involving a symbiotic relationship with a fungi ) that assures the species survival. This helps to explain why most orchids cannot be grown in captivity.Take a photo and conserve the orchid in situ, for future generations to enjoy it in its natural habitat.

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The WOSA Constitution incorporating amendments required by SARS for registration as a Public Benefit Organisation, reference number 930050871 dd. 2015.11.14

 

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Welcome to WOSA

Very little is known about indigenous orchids by the public who are largely unaware that there are over 450 species of which 45 are endemic (only occur in South Africa). Very little research has been carried out regarding ecology, conservation and propagation although a number of species have become extinct and habitat destruction is progressing at an alarming rate. Up until now there has been no attempt to address these issues on a National scale and Provincial legislation and cooperation is fragmented. Only through a focused National integrated effort that engages the public and all roll players will survival of orchids be assured.

Proteadal Development Halted!

The Proteadal Conservation Association, in association with Wild Orchid Southern Africa, is delighted to announce a major victory for conservation in South Africa, and for the preservation of the irreplaceable habitat and threatened biodiversity of the West Rand Ridges around Proteadal along the southern border of the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens in Krugersdorp. This includes the habitat of the only viable population of the critically endangered Albertina Sisulu Orchid and the hunting ground of the majestic Black Eagle.

The decision to grant authorisation for the development of almost 3000 high density residential units on a portion of Mogale City property known as Proteadal, was set aside and made an order of the South Gauteng High Court on 31st July 2019.

In late 2015, a review application was lodged by the Proteadal Conservation Association against the MEC of Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), after he approved the development on appeal, effectively overturning the underlying 2014 decision by the Head of Department of GDARD, to deny authorisation for the development. Wild Orchids Southern Africa supported this review application as respondent in the court application.

Today, the 2014 decision still stands as an order of the court, so the orchid is safe for now.

This victory is not just for the Proteadal Conservation Association and their very able environmental legal team Webber Wentzel and Counsel, but for all the other organisations and individuals who contribute towards the environmental care of these ridges to make them worth preserving.

 

Various colour forms of the around 120 plants of the critically endangerd Albertina Sisulu Orchids from the Krugersdorp colony  Aerial view of the West Rand Ridge with the R28 highway that runs up and over the ridge in the foreground

Yes Folks, it is soon WOSA conference time again

Register Now

 

Download the registration form here WOSA_5_2020/WOSA5_CONF_registration_form.pdf or email Catharina Wilfinger on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

OrchidMap - Orchid distribution data with your assistance

 

   

Traditionally orchid distribution data was recorded by collecting herbarium specimens. OrchidMap takes the recording of orchid distribution data into the 20th century. Anyone can now contribute to the distribution data by simply uploading photos of any orchid found in its natural habitat - together with location data - into OrchidMap. Any contributions are welcome!

This location data can then used for a multitude of applications - from Environmental Impact Assessments through to determining correlations of flowering time with climatic conditions. The data is now accessible to anyone -  from the serious researcher right through to the orchid enthusiast. 

Detail location data is securely protected and maps and locations publically accessible in OrchidMap are restricted to squares of approx. 26km x 26km. 

OrchidMap is part of the Virtual Museum maintained by the Animal Demography Unit (ADU) at the University of Cape Town                                                                                                                                                 

Visit OrchidMap Now!

 

 

 

For more information regarding the preservation of South Africa's wild Orchids or if you would like to get involved please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or complete this short form Contact Us and we will contact you.

Help support our conservation objectives on https://www.thundafund.com/project/eagles by making a donation.