Community for the Conservation and Research of Rafflesia (CCRR)

The CCRR is made up of academic biologists, foresters, researchers and community practitioners around the world who work on Rafflesia.

Our vision is to understand and conserve the world's largest flowers. To enable this vision, we are building an international community of purpose to develop, share and deploy best practice.

Our aims are to:

  • Facilitate knowledge exchange among academics, researchers and community conservation practitioners
  • Realise income from ecotourism and other initiatives to support community-level conservation on the ground
  • Raise awareness to support future protection of a culturally significant plant

In delivering against these aims, ultimately our goal is to create the first ever Rafflesia conservation working group: sharing knowledge, tools and best practice.

the rainforest habitat of rafflesia in kalinga
the team grafting rafflesia at the sierra madre land grant in the philippines

Rafflesia: the world's largest flower

 

Rafflesia is the genus containing the world's largest flowers. Despite their global appeal, most of the 42 known species are now at risk of extinction. An estimated 60% of Rafflesia species now face a severe risk of extinction (equivalent to Critically Endangered [CR]). Moreover, 67% of known habitats fall outside protected areas, exacerbating their vulnerability. Urgent action is needed to protect these remarkable flowers, and requires international collaboration and knowledge exchange to enable habitat protection and support for local community action groups.

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chris and the team with rafflesia arnoldii largest flower in the world sumatra

Learn about the members of the Community

the life cycle of rafflesia

Research

rafflesia panchoana on its host tetrastigma vine

Rafflesia species of the world

a rare glimpse of the interior of rafflesia arnoldii

Find out the blooming alerts of Rafflesia