Species diversity and the conservation status of Rafflesia in Malesia.

The genus ((Rafflesia)) has since its discovery by Raffles and Arnold in 1820 near Bencoolen in Sumatra shown a remarkable diversity of about 14-15 species in the whole area of Malesia west of the Wallace line. The Malayan Peninsula and Kra Peninsula harbour most probably three species, of which one is still hidden in the forests of Kelantan. In Sumatra we know of the existence of five different species, in Java two, in Borneo the picture is less clear, at least three species at most five, and in the Philippines two. ((Rafflesia patma)) and ((R. arnoldii)) occur on different islands. During the last thirty years colour pictures of open flowers in situ have been made in Sumatra, Malaya, Java, Borneo and Luzon. There are at present very few localities known of any species where we know of large enough populations where we can expect long range survival of species. In fact on the basis of present day knowledge two or three species are quite possibly extinct and two others close to extinction. However the present lack of exploration in potential Rafflesia sites makes it impossible to make a realistic assessment. A vigorous campaign in Sabah has turned up more sites and similar results could be expected in Sumatra and East Kalimantan. However little positive results can be expected in all the logged over lowland forests of the Malay Peninsula, where climber cutting has been standard practice, in the thousands of hectares of burnt over forests of Kalimantan and in the ravaged hill forests in which the timber loggers are now penetrating. Exploitation of thermal energy, overvisitation of tourists, superstitious uses of bud, vandalization for the benefit of tourists, whole sale land clearing, sheer ignorance and neglect have done a lot of harm to ((Rafflesia)). In many ways this large flower is now the symbol, the mascot of the Flora of Malesia. The way ((Rafflesia)) goes so goes the diversity of the Malesian forests. Only very active and aggresive new explorations can give us any hope of survival of these stupendous flowers.