By I. Inojales | 02:40 PM October 16, 2026
BILAR, Bohol — Environment officials and partner institutions have recorded an initial count of 1,450 Bohol Helmet Orchid (Corybas boholensis) individuals during a monitoring activity at two sites in the Loboc Watershed Forest Reserve in Bilar, Bohol.
The monitoring was conducted on Oct. 1 by the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office (BPEMO), in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Tagbilaran, Bilar’s Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, Bohol Island State University-Bilar Campus and Bohol Provincial Tourism Office.
Of the 1,450 orchid individuals initially recorded, 269 were found at Site 1, including five with buds, while 1,181 were recorded at Site 2, including one with a bud.
Officials said the species could not yet be conclusively identified during the monitoring because it is identified through its flowers and none of the orchids had bloomed. The initial counts will also require further validation during the next visit.
The Bohol Helmet Orchid is a ground-dwelling species known only from Bohol and is considered one of the province’s priority flagship species.
The monitoring aims to establish baseline information on the orchid’s occurrence and distribution to guide future conservation efforts and protect its natural habitat.
The presence of the rare orchid also highlights the connection between Bohol’s distinctive limestone and karst landscapes and its rich biodiversity, further underscoring the importance of protecting the province’s natural heritage as a Unesco Global Geopark.
