KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Sarawak Orchid Society (SARORSO) celebrated its third graduation ceremony on Monday (July 6), marking another milestone in its shared commitment to biodiversity conservation, education and community empowerment.
The ceremony which involved graduates of the Juma’ani Orchid Conservation Community Project (JOCCoP) and the Juma’ani In Vitro Orchid Micropropagation (JIVOM) programmes, reflected growing public interest in conserving Sarawak’s rich orchid heritage.
SARORSO chairperson Tengku Dr Auvaroza Tengku Abraham emphasised the importance of orchid conservation, saying an orchid’s survival depends on a complex ecological relationship involving mycorrhizal fungi, pollinators and healthy forests.
“When orchids disappear, it may indicate that these ecological relationships are also under threat.
“Conserving orchids is about safeguarding pollination, fungal diversity, forest ecosystems, water resources and the biodiversity that supports all life,” she said at the graduation ceremony held at the PeTARY Auditorium of UNIMAS here.
She added that orchids serve as a reminder that no organism in nature can thrive in isolation.
“Just like SARORSO, conservation requires the collective efforts of scientists, educators, government agencies, local communities, volunteers, and funding partners, all working towards a common goal,” she said.
Reflecting on SARORSO’s early journey, she said Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Hamzawi Sani, played a pivotal role in introducing the organisation to in vitro orchid micropropagation.
“In May 2018, when SARORSO had just begun its journey in orchid micropropagation, Professor Dr. Hamzawi and UNIMAS opened their doors to us, allowing us to observe, learn, and gain a deeper understanding of this field,” she said.
Currently the mentor of JOCCoP, Professor Dr. Hamzawi said the conservation journey reflects how passion can be transformed into meaningful action for biodiversity conservation.
“Since early 2018, the society has turned its enthusiasm into commitment and action, allowing SARORSO to leave a small but significant footprint on Sarawak’s orchid conservation landscape,” he said.
He described JOCCoP as one of the organisation’s most significant achievements, particularly for its success in engaging local communities.
“The expansion of JOCCoP to Kota Samarahan is a phenomenal achievement. It demonstrates that sustainable orchid conservation can also generate economic opportunities, proving that protecting nature is not a barrier to development,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Simon Pugh-Jones, founder of the Writhlington School Orchid Project, praised the resilience and teamwork demonstrated by JIVOM participants throughout their training in orchid micropropagation.
“Growing orchids from seed through in vitro propagation is a demanding process. Sometimes the seeds are infertile, while at other times fungal contamination destroys healthy plants, but just like the uncertainties we face in life, these students have shown remarkable resilience and determination,” he said.
“Today, we are witnessing the results of that determination, made even more remarkable by their strong spirit of teamwork,” he said.
