Sikkim’s Sirisay-Thampong village achieves 100% native orchid coverage

Sikkim: A village in Sikkim’s Namchi district achieved 100% native orchid coverage on Sunday, June 21, 2026, as part of a conservation drive to match its name of “orchid village”.

A team of 17 volunteers carried out a one-day native orchid conservation drive in Sirisay-Thampong village. The team visited all 75 households in the village during the exercise.

As part of the drive, the volunteers identified suitable host trees in each household. They then mounted two to three ecologically significant orchid species on the selected trees.

The orchids used were epiphytic species. Epiphytic orchids are capable of growing naturally on tree trunks without soil, drawing moisture and nutrients from the air and rain.

With this effort, every household in Sirisay-Thampong now has native orchids, giving the village full coverage and aligning with its “orchid village” identity.