Data from: Orchid trade at the source: Epiphytic species with conspicuous flowers in low-elevation forests are more locally collected in a Philippine key biodiversity area

Orchids are the most heavily traded plant group globally, putting pressure
on wild populations in many source countries like the Philippines. Despite
its rich orchid diversity, there remains a notable gap in understanding
the factors driving orchid trade within the country. To address this
knowledge gap and support orchid conservation efforts, we utilized a
five-year orchid diversity dataset extensively collected through floristic
field and village garden surveys in one of the largest key biodiversity
areas in the southern Philippines. We employed a trait-based approach to
investigate ecological drivers of local orchid collection within this
source area. Our results show that around 36% of local orchid diversity
have predicted collection risks of ≥50%. Notably, locally collected orchid
species exhibited multiple, large, and conspicuously colored flowers that
are found in low-elevation forests and higher up in forest stratum.
Elevational distribution and flower size emerged as the strongest
predictors, potentially influencing collection preferences. Our analysis
of predicted collection risks underscores the vulnerability of both
threatened and non-threatened orchid species to local collection
pressures. Moreover, we highlight the practical utility of our trait-based
approach in predicting risks and informing management strategies for local
orchid conservation. This research marks a significant step towards
identifying ecological drivers influencing orchid trade at its source,
providing insights that can inform targeted conservation strategies across
many key biodiversity areas for this highly diverse, charismatic, and
threatened plant family.