Photo: Ramiro Polinar
“The orchids are cut off at the root, dehydrated, without leaves or roots, but little by little they come back to life with proper care.” This is how Ramiro Polinar describes the process of rescuing orchids from depredated areas in the forests of Huánuco. At 19 years old, he has found his passion—saving orchids that have been uprooted and bringing them back to life.
As a volunteer Community Guard in the Carpish Montane Forest Regional Conservation Areas (RCA), during his patrols he finds these plants abandoned on the ground or washed away by the river, and takes them to his garden center to care for them. His dedication is not only to the protection of these forests, but also to the rescue of a species unique to the area, whose flowers are being lost to deforestation.
This conservation effort is supported through the financial mechanism of the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI), led by the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) and executed by Profonanpe, which provides technical and financial support to the Carpish Montane Forest RCA and the Community Environmental Guard Committees, of which Ramiro is a member.
Profonanpe spoke with him about his passion for orchid conservation and his tireless work as a volunteer park ranger in this conservation area.
What motivated you to open a garden center specializing in orchids?
I have always loved plants since I was a child. I think I have it by nature, and I just started taking care of them. I am 19 years old and this initiative was born from me alone, my parents never talked to me about conservation.
How is the orchid recovery process?
The orchids I rescue are usually root cut, dehydrated and with wilted leaves. I put them in pots with plenty of humidity and water them to recover their leaves and roots. The garden center is at kilometer 62 of the central road to Chinchao. To move them, I use only my scissors and my backpack, I don’t need anything else.
Photo: Ramiro Polinar
Photo: Ramiro Polinar
Why do you consider orchids important for biodiversity and the environment?
For me, they are important because I like them and they are unique to this area. Most of them are not found elsewhere, and I have them here in the garden center. Even though I am now alone in this project, I make time to take care of them. Some people come to visit them, but it’s not something many people are interested in.
How do you balance your two activities: being an ACR Volunteer Community Guard and conserving orchids?
It’s complicated, but I always make time for my plants. Recently I was on patrol and I said: today it’s time to see the plants. I organize myself by days, I would still like to get more resources and direct support.
What would you like to do with this orchid garden center in the future?
I have thought about expanding the garden center and starting to reproduce the plants because they are developing well and there are more and more of them. I would also like to turn this into a sustainable project. For this I have already started with the corresponding paperwork before the Technical Forestry and Wildlife Administration, for the permits and authorizations according to the law.
Photo: Ramiro Polinar
