Peninsula Orchid Society

Peninsula Orchid Society Speakers Schedule: September 28, 2007

Ecuadoran Orchids in Situ

Ivan Portilla, Ecuagenera

Our speaker this month is Ecuagenera's Ivan Portilla, a regular visitor to the San Francisco area for the Orchid Fest, and the Pacific Orchid Exposition.

Ecuagenera was launched 50 years ago with the arrival of the Catholic priest, Father Angel Andreetta, in the Bomboiza sector in the village of Gualaquiza in the eastern province of Morona Santiago. In Bomboiza, a place privileged for its abundance of gold deposits and flora orchidacea, Andreetta began the process of researching, selecting and collecting orchid species, making him a pioneer of orchid collection in the region. As a result of his work, in 1968 it was possible for Ecuador to participate for the first time in a world exposition of orchids in Colombia.

Wanting his work to continue, Andreetta found help from a young man who demonstrated a real love for nature: Mario Portilla, who would become his main ally for many years. Later, Andreetta continued his work of orchid collection in the hacienda Yumacay in Paute.

Meanwhile, they felt the need to build a business that would be dedicated to the conservation and marketing of orchids. In 1991 José Portilla, Mario's younger brother, appeared on the scene. Jose demonstrated a deep interest in this work and was invited to participate in the business.

February 1992 marked the beginning of the new business, which by May of the same year was legally recognized under the name Géneros Ecuatorianos Ecuagenera CIA, TDA. The Portilla brothers were the founding members and Andreetta was their adviser. It was this organization which took charge of the preservation of Andreetta?s orchid collection. To this day, this collection is carefully preserved in an effort to support the maintenance and reproduction of various species.

By 1993 Ecuagenera became the first Ecuadorian business to obtain legal permission to export orchids through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Since its founding, Ecuagenera has established itself as a business leader in the research, preservation, and conservation of the flora orquidacea of Ecuador. Ecuagenera has placed large numbers of farm raised orchids into private protected reserves.

Ivan will be talking about the variety of Ecuadorian orchids. His talk will feature beautiful photos of the species, most taken in situ, and he will also talk a little about the orchid tours that Ecuagenera hosts. Ivan will also be supplying the opportunity table.

To allow Ivan extra time there will be no skill session this month.