FIRST ON RADAR: Rare thumb-sized orchid recorded for the first time in the Philippines

A rare orchid no bigger than a thumb has been recorded for the first time in the Philippines, after being discovered in a forest within the mining tenement of Cagdianao Mining Corp. (CMC) in Dinagat Islands.

The species, Corybas pictus, was documented in the Luksuhan area during the company’s Aquatic and Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment, conducted by environmental consultancy BIOTOPE Environmental Consultancy Services.

Native to Malaysia, Java, Sumatra, and Borneo, the helmet orchid is a small terrestrial plant with a heart-shaped leaf marked by silver-white veins. Its solitary flower measures about 2 centimeters across and features a deep reddish-brown hue with a contrasting white center.

The discovery adds to the biodiversity records of CMC’s mining areas, where the assessment documented 274 species from 91 families across three sampling sites. These included 92 Philippine-endemic species and 39 threatened and endemic plants.

The assessment covered two natural forest sites, Luksuhan and Maraguing, as well as rehabilitation areas where native trees have been replanted. It also found improved habitat conditions for amphibians and reptiles in areas undergoing reforestation and restoration.

CMC, a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp., conducts biodiversity monitoring every two years to guide its environmental management and rehabilitation efforts.

The company said the findings would help improve its understanding of local ecosystems and guide conservation initiatives within its mining tenement.