The beauty of orchids is a natural wonder. Thailand has an abundance of exotic orchids, though some species are rarely seen now. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother supported the conservation and breeding of rare native orchids. Thanks to Her Majesty, efforts have been made to bring them back from the verge of extinction.

In January 1992, the Fourth Asia Pacific Orchid Conference (APOC 4) was held in the northern province of Chiang Mai. It marked the first time Thailand hosted this event, bringing together international orchid enthusiasts, researchers, and hobbyists to exchange knowledge on orchid development, biotechnology, and conservation.

Professor Rapee Sagarik, a renowned Thai orchid expert, was one of the founding members of APOC. Maejo University took the main responsibility of hosting this event, which was also meant to celebrate the 60th birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.

While viewing the exhibits after presiding over the opening ceremony at Maejo University on 22 January 1992, Her Majesty spoke with Professor Rapee, the president of Maejo University, and the commander of the Third Army Area, who was accompanying her, expressing her concern about the dwindling wild orchids in Thailand.

Her Majesty said, “Thai native orchids are very beautiful and fragrant. They are becoming rare and are facing extinction. We should join hands in finding ways to conserve them and to propagate them in sufficient quantities to return them to the wild.”

In response to Her Majesty’s wishes, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Forest Department, and Maejo University worked together with the private sector in launching the project “Reintroduction of Native Thai Orchids to the Forest at the Royal Initiative.” Maejo University serves as the center in propagating native orchids and conserving them as national heritage.

The project has so far reintroduced more than 500,000 orchids, covering 25 genera and 60 species, into natural habitats. It also led to several other projects dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, such as Lady's Slipper Orchid Conservation, Propagation and Conservation of Rare Thai Orchids, and Rhynchostylis Gigantea Propagation.

The largest repository of native orchid species in Thailand is the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province. It offers suitable conditions for growing native Thai orchid species and for contributing to the conservation of these species.

Realizing that, without conservation, native Thai orchids could have been lost forever, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit called on various relevant agencies to help protect native orchids on a continual basis in order to preserve Thailand’s biodiversity and natural heritage.