Orchids: The Top-Selling Wild Plant – How Much Are They Worth?

The biodiversity of flora and fauna in Indonesian forests not only maintains the existing ecosystem balance but also provides economic value. The beauty and uniqueness of the flora and fauna hold a special appeal for nature lovers.

Orchids were the highest-selling flora or fauna in 2020. According to the 2020 Statistics of Flora and Fauna Breeding Companies, 1.02 million orchid plants were sold, worth Rp 62.95 billion.

Arowana fish sales were second highest, valued at Rp 35.12 billion, with 25,976 fish sold. Coral, whose export was only opened in 2020, was the third highest-selling flora or fauna, with 371,442 pieces sold for Rp 30.93 billion.

Fourth, turtle sales reached 739,105 individuals, worth Rp 9.32 billion in 2020. Fifth, 8,422 black-capped lories were sold for Rp 7.07 billion.

Overall, the sales value of flora and fauna increased to Rp 152.69 billion in 2020. This increase was due to the lifting of coral export restrictions by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries at the beginning of 2020. This decision allowed companies involved in coral breeding to begin selling their products domestically and internationally.

According to Minister of Forestry Regulation P.19/Menhut-II/2005, the breeding of flora and fauna is the effort to increase their numbers through breeding and raising, while maintaining their species. Of the 165 companies targeted for the census of the Flora and Fauna Breeding and Circulation Company Survey, only 103 companies were active, both those already in production and those not yet in production.