Threats
You may know that biodiversity is essential for the survival of a community, because the greater the variety and number of different species, the better the community can work together to ensure the reproduction and survival of its environment. In the case of the rafflesia, biodiversity would contribute to the survival of this rare flower, had it not been for human interference and lack of fertilization.
Human Impact
The sad truth is that the forests of Malaysia are disappearing. Only one fifth of the original rainforests remain, due to mass deconstruction for timber and rubber. Many sites where the rafflesia is located are popular tourist attractions, therefore resulting in lots of human disturbance. Rafflesia flowers that are not located in National or State parks are not protected. In 2002, 44 out of 83 rafflesia flowers found the Malaysian state of Sabah were located outside of designated conservation areas. In addition to this, buds are often collected because they are good for healing remedies, rendering the numbers of the rafflesia even smaller.
You may know that biodiversity is essential for the survival of a community, because the greater the variety and number of different species, the better the community can work together to ensure the reproduction and survival of its environment. In the case of the rafflesia, biodiversity would contribute to the survival of this rare flower, had it not been for human interference and lack of fertilization.
Human Impact
The sad truth is that the forests of Malaysia are disappearing. Only one fifth of the original rainforests remain, due to mass deconstruction for timber and rubber. Many sites where the rafflesia is located are popular tourist attractions, therefore resulting in lots of human disturbance. Rafflesia flowers that are not located in National or State parks are not protected. In 2002, 44 out of 83 rafflesia flowers found the Malaysian state of Sabah were located outside of designated conservation areas. In addition to this, buds are often collected because they are good for healing remedies, rendering the numbers of the rafflesia even smaller.
Other Threats
Human interference is not the only factor contributing to the near extinction of the rafflesia flowers. Since they require carrion flies to act as pollinators, the chances of a fly collecting pollen from a male flower first and then visiting a female flower are
low, especially since a lot of times the flowers are not located within close proximity to each other. Also since the flowers only stay open for only 5-7 days, minimizing the time in which the flower gets pollinated. There are also a lot more male than female flowers, making reproduction even harder. Even if the flower does get pollinated, the seedlings from the fruit must find their way to a tetrastigma vine. This is usually helped by tree shrews, however few seeds can actually start to grow, since they must enter the vine through damaged roots or stems. This factor, plus increased human interference, is why the rafflesia is slowly becoming extinct. In fact, three species of the rafflesia have already been identified as extinct. The rest are critically endangered.
Conservation and Protection
Despite these threats, people in Malaysia have taken the initiative to help preserve this rare species. All National and State parks are protected by law, and the Malaysian economy has been trying to export more manufactured goods instead of agriculture, timber, and rubber, so as to reduce the amount of forestry. Also, in 1988, Malaysia was required to cut back on its forestry because there was worldwide concern about the destruction of rainforests. The 9th Malaysia Plan of 2009 set targets of 300 MW of renewable energy in Peninsular Malaysia and 50 MW in the state of Sabah, so as to reduce pollution (which could negatively impact the rainforests).
Human interference is not the only factor contributing to the near extinction of the rafflesia flowers. Since they require carrion flies to act as pollinators, the chances of a fly collecting pollen from a male flower first and then visiting a female flower are
low, especially since a lot of times the flowers are not located within close proximity to each other. Also since the flowers only stay open for only 5-7 days, minimizing the time in which the flower gets pollinated. There are also a lot more male than female flowers, making reproduction even harder. Even if the flower does get pollinated, the seedlings from the fruit must find their way to a tetrastigma vine. This is usually helped by tree shrews, however few seeds can actually start to grow, since they must enter the vine through damaged roots or stems. This factor, plus increased human interference, is why the rafflesia is slowly becoming extinct. In fact, three species of the rafflesia have already been identified as extinct. The rest are critically endangered.
Conservation and Protection
Despite these threats, people in Malaysia have taken the initiative to help preserve this rare species. All National and State parks are protected by law, and the Malaysian economy has been trying to export more manufactured goods instead of agriculture, timber, and rubber, so as to reduce the amount of forestry. Also, in 1988, Malaysia was required to cut back on its forestry because there was worldwide concern about the destruction of rainforests. The 9th Malaysia Plan of 2009 set targets of 300 MW of renewable energy in Peninsular Malaysia and 50 MW in the state of Sabah, so as to reduce pollution (which could negatively impact the rainforests).
References:
https://www.borneodream.com/courses-and-tours/wildlife-tours/information-explore-sabah-borneo/news-rafflesia-sabah-borneo-malaysia.html
http://eol.org/pages/5514311/overview
http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/rafflesia-arnoldii-corpse-flower
http://florapedia.blogspot.ca/2011/05/rafflesia-arnoldii-and-classification.html
http://legacy.earlham.edu/~givenbe/Rafflesia/rafflesia/biodiv2.htm
http://www.flyingdusun.com/004_Features/022_Rafflesia.htm
http://www.herbcyclopedia.com/item/rafflesia-arnoldii-the-biggest-flower-on-earth-2
http://amazingadaptations.weebly.com/rafflesia-arnoldii.html
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/313823/scitech/science/romancing-the-rafflesia-more-fun-in-the-philippines
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~tbarkman/rafflesia/Rafflesia.html
http://peculiar-plants.wikifoundry.com/page/Rafflesia
http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/155175/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm36-UKx5EY
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0803.htm
https://www.borneodream.com/courses-and-tours/wildlife-tours/information-explore-sabah-borneo/news-rafflesia-sabah-borneo-malaysia.html
http://eol.org/pages/5514311/overview
http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/rafflesia-arnoldii-corpse-flower
http://florapedia.blogspot.ca/2011/05/rafflesia-arnoldii-and-classification.html
http://legacy.earlham.edu/~givenbe/Rafflesia/rafflesia/biodiv2.htm
http://www.flyingdusun.com/004_Features/022_Rafflesia.htm
http://www.herbcyclopedia.com/item/rafflesia-arnoldii-the-biggest-flower-on-earth-2
http://amazingadaptations.weebly.com/rafflesia-arnoldii.html
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/313823/scitech/science/romancing-the-rafflesia-more-fun-in-the-philippines
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~tbarkman/rafflesia/Rafflesia.html
http://peculiar-plants.wikifoundry.com/page/Rafflesia
http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/155175/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm36-UKx5EY
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0803.htm