Notes from 3t: I have returned from the heart of Cartagena with renewed vigor and a treasure trove of insights. The Botanical Bridges Congress was not just a gathering; it was a clarion call to those of us dedicated to preserving the rich tapestry of plant diversity in the Caribbean and Central American region. This area, a cradle of unparalleled botanical wealth, hosts species that whisper the ancient tales of our planet’s green heritage, many of which find sanctuary nowhere else on Earth.
Yet, as we stand witness to the relentless threats of habitat destruction, invasive species encroachment, and the ever-looming specter of climate change, the urgency to act becomes ever more pressing. It is within this crucible of challenge that the power of collaboration shines through. The Congress underscored the indispensable role of forging and nurturing connections across the spectrum of institutions dedicated to plant conservation—a united front in the battle to protect our green legacy.
This year’s Botanical Bridges Congress, a testament to the collaborative spirit encouraged by the Caribbean and Central American Botanic Gardens Network (CCABGN) alongside past and present host organizations and the stalwart support of Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), was a melting pot of ideas, strategies, and shared dreams. The partnership forged in 2019 between Naples Botanical Garden (NBG) and BGCI, further strengthened by the appointment of a dedicated coordinator in 2022, exemplifies the collective commitment to bolstering the botanic garden community’s role in our region’s conservation efforts.
My contribution to this grand dialogue was a presentation entitled “Resilience in the Face of Natural Disasters: Conservation Efforts and Challenges for Endangered Endemic Species at Eye On The Rainforest,” aimed at casting a spotlight on the critical yet often overlooked aspect of our work: the resilience and recovery of ecosystems in the aftermath of natural calamities, such as 2017’s Hurricane Maria, and 2022’s Hurricane Fiona. Sharing our experiences and lessons learned, we delve into the essence of what it means to protect and nurture the fragile bastions of biodiversity that are endemic species.
The congress was an extraordinary confluence of minds and missions, and my heart is full of gratitude for our gracious hosts, Santiago Madrinan and Maria Contreras, leaders of Jardín Botánico de Cartagena “Guillermo Piñeres, and their diligent and extremely fun team of students from the university. Their hospitality and meticulous planning set the stage for a truly impactful gathering. The food was spectacular!
3t with Santiago Madrinan and Maria ContrerasTeam of students from the university
Special thanks are also due to Chad Washburn (NBG), Noelia Alvarez (BGCI), Lina Ramirez (BGCI), and Andrew Wyatt (Missouri Botanical Gardens), whose support made my participation possible, covering the logistical necessities that often pose barriers to sharing our voices and visions. Also, thanks to Patricia Malcolm (BGCI), who has been key in accepting our proposals for continued work with endangered endemic species in Puerto Rico.
As I reflect on the experiences of the past five days, the conversations, the learning, and the shared commitment to our cause, I am filled with hope. I have met some wonderful people here. Together, under the banner of #BotanicalBridges, we move forward, united in our dedication to plant conservation and the belief that, through collaboration, we can secure the future of our planet’s botanical wonders for generations to come.
In the realm of botanical conservation, Thrity (3t) Vakil, serving as the director of Tropic Ventures Research & Education Foundation (TVREF), has been at the forefront of a significant project aimed at safeguarding endangered endemic tree species in Puerto Rico. Under her leadership, TVREF, in collaboration with Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and the Global Tree Campaign (GTC), embarked on an ambitious initiative to conserve two of Puerto Rico’s threatened endemic tree species: Palo de Cruz, Garcinia portoricensis(Clusiaceae)and Tortugo Prieto Ravenia urbani(Rutaceae).
The conservation project’s genesis can be traced back to 2021, when the Naples Botanical Garden in Florida secured a grant from the Association of Zoological Horticulture. This funding was pivotal for constructing a new tree nursery at Las Casas de la Selva in Patillas, Puerto Rico, addressing a critical need following the destruction wrought by Hurricane Maria in 2017, which decimated the existing tree nurseries. The partnership with BGCI and the GTC, formalized through a 2021 agreement, significantly enhanced the project’s scope and potential impact.
Garcinia portoricensis is growing in the nursery at Las Casas de la Selva. Dec 2023
3T brought together a world-class multidisciplinary team of specialists in various fields, including plant and tree sciences, ecology, agronomy, biology, taxonomy, bryology, pteridology, mycology, lepidoptery, lichenology, and zoology.
The team was tasked with advancing the project’s objectives within the 930-acre forest property in the southeast mountains of Puerto Rico, adjacent to the Carite State Forest, known as Las Casas de la Selva. This property, established in 1983, is recognized as a certified stewardship forest and operates under an approved forest stewardship management plan. It is designated as an auxiliary forest. The team also carried out botanical expeditions to other areas on the island of Puerto Rico.
Garcinia portoricensis fruitRavenia urbani fruit
The project, under 3T’s guidance, has updated conservation assessments, mapped populations, established an ex-situ collection, created propagation protocols, and will implement in-situ conservation programs. Educational initiatives targeting local schools and the development of an integrated action plan for national authorities are also key components of the project’s strategy.
3T’s leadership in this collaborative conservation effort stands as a testament to the potential for positive impact on the preservation of endangered endemic trees in Puerto Rico. As 2024 progresses, the collective efforts of TVREF, BGCI, NBG, GTC, and other partner organizations are poised to contribute significantly to the long-term survival of Garcinia portoricensis and Ravenia urbani, securing their legacy for future generations. January 2024
Thrity Vakil & Amelia Merced extracting seeds from the seed cases of Ravenia urbani
Meet three Naples Botanical Garden partners to understand the environmental pressures they face, the ways in which they are striving to make a difference, and why NBG champions their causes. September 2021. Go to Pages 16-18, to read about the work we are doing with endangered endemics Conserve Magazine Pages 16-18.pdf
3t Vakil was invited to attend the November 2024 “Horticulture for Conservation” workshop in Havana, Cuba. Hosted at Havana’s National Botanical Garden, Jardín Botánico Nacional – UH -Cuba (JBN), this gathering united experts from Cuba, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and the United States, creating fertile ground for collaboration.
The workshop was organized by the CSE/IUCN Cuban Plant Specialist Group, the National Network of Botanical Gardens of Cuba, and the Network of Botanical Gardens of the Caribbean and Central America, receiving support from several key organizations. These sponsors included the National Botanical Garden (JBN), the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve of the Bahamas, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the Whitley Fund for Nature, and Planta – Plantlife Conservation Society, all highlighting the shared commitment to sustainable conservation practices.
For 3T, the event was a perfect match with our mission at Las Casas de la Selva, emphasizing horticulture’s role in conservation. It opened new avenues for innovative strategies and allowed us to form valuable connections with leading botanists and conservationists dedicated to preserving the Caribbean’s botanical heritage.
The diverse participation underscored the significance of collaborative efforts in addressing environmental challenges. Sharing knowledge and resources, the workshop aimed to bolster the resilience of botanical gardens and conservation nurseries as centers for biodiversity and conservation education. 3T’s journey to Havana marked a significant stride towards building stronger botanical conservation networks. The collaborations formed and the insights gained promise to have a lasting impact on the conservation of the Caribbean’s botanical treasures. This workshop has not only reinforced the importance of unity in conservation efforts but also set the stage for future projects and innovations, paving the way for a greener Caribbean and beyond. Nov 2023
Hygrocybe prieta: bioluminescent fungi. This is a mushroom of the waxcap genus Hygrocybe. *
Exploring the Enchanted Forest: Night-Time Hikes with Kurt Miller in Las Casas de la Selva Forest.
A team of adventurous explorers was granted the extraordinary opportunity to witness one of the natural world’s most enchanting phenomena: the trails of the Las Casas de la Selva rainforest illuminated by the ethereal glow of bioluminescent fungi. Under the expert guidance of the esteemed mycologist Kurt Miller, the participants embarked on a mesmerizing midnight trek. This unique journey allowed them to immerse themselves in the forest’s captivating luminescence, where the natural radiance of the fungi became the highlight of their adventure.
Kurt Miller, with his expertise and passion for fungi, led the group through the dense foliage, unveiling the hidden wonders of the forest under the cover of darkness. The bioluminescent fungi, a phenomenon where fungi emit light through a chemical reaction, turned the forest into a living, glowing entity. This extraordinary sight, often unseen by the day’s light, offered participants a unique glimpse into the mystical life of the rainforest.
The event, seamlessly organized by Raquel Torres-Arzola, included not just the hike but an immersive experience with an overnight stay in the heart of the rainforest. Raquel’s efforts ensured that every participant was well taken care of, providing a delicious dinner and breakfast that catered to all food preferences, making the adventure as comfortable as it was exhilarating.
Special thanks are also due to 3t, Paula Isabel Arzola, Abdelmonem Assi, and Andres Rua, whose contributions were invaluable in making the event a success. Their help with organizing and managing the logistics allowed participants to fully immerse themselves in the experience without worry.
For those adventurous souls who missed out on this spectacular event, there’s good news. Raquel Torres-Arzola is your go-to contact for signing up for future expeditions. These night-time hikes are tailored for those who are able to navigate the forest’s terrain after dark. Whether you’re looking to join as an individual or as part of a friend or family group of up to 18 people, there’s an opportunity for everyone. It’s important to note that these adventures are designed for physically fit participants over the age of 15, ensuring that all involved can safely enjoy the hike.
Las Casas de la Selva rainforest offers more than just a hike; it offers an opportunity to connect with nature on a profound level, to see the unseen, and to learn from experts like Kurt Miller. If you’re seeking an adventure that combines the thrill of exploration with the beauty of nature’s own light show, then this is an experience you won’t want to miss.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to explore the glowing heart of the rainforest and witness the magic of bioluminescent fungi with Kurt Miller and the dedicated team that makes these journeys possible.
Lentinus scleropus at Las Casas de la Selva, Patillas, Puerto Rico.
Thank you, Kurt Miller, for your love of fungi.
*Hygrocybe prieta: bioluminescent fungi. This is a mushroom of the waxcap genus Hygrocybe. Described as new to science in 1990, it is found in Puerto Rico, where it grows on clay banks under boulders and elevated tree roots.
Thrity was invited by the directors of the Botanical Gardens Conservation International, and Naples Botanical Garden, to the Botanical Bridges Congress 2022, at The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve, a 30 acre world-class, botanic garden in Governor’s Harbor Eleuthera Island, Bahamas. It is a showcase of native and endemic Bahamian plants and is the first and only national park on the island. Thrity’s presentation at the congress highlighted the history and forestry work at Las Casas, including the last two years of work with critically endangered endemic species. There were 50 participants from 26 Botanical Gardens and institutions, representing 11 countries and territories, a gathering to improve global collaboration.
Huge thanks to Joachim Gratzfeld, BGCI Regional Programmes Director; Chad Washburn, Director, Naples Botanical Garden, Florida; Noelia Alvarez, BGCI Plant Conservation Project Manager, for arranging and sponsoring Thrity’s trip.
Outcomes and Emerging Themes
There were many important outcomes and emerging themes at the Congress including: Revision and acceptance of a draft of A Plant Conservation Strategy for the Caribbean Region. The strategy provides a unifying set of plant conservation actions linked to and in support of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The Strategy will be circulated among the Network in early 2023 for a final stakeholder consultation.
A range of tools and resources are available through Botanic Gardens Conservation International to support and guide plant conservation efforts, including the International Plant Sentinel Network, Global Conservation Consortia, Global Tree Assessments, Plant Search, Threat Search, and the Global Tree Portal.
There is a significant need to draw in more participation from Caribbean and Central American gardens and plant conservation organizations to build a stronger network. This will require improved communication, engagement, and promotion of the network.
Botanic Gardens across the region are acting as education, training, and sustainability centers to build regional capacity to support plant conservation. Projects that focus on taxonomic groups can serve as successful models for collaboration and creating coordinated metacollections of high conservation value. Collaborations within the region and outside of the region will be necessary to build significant capacity for plant conservation. This includes collaborations between gardens and governments, businesses and entrepreneurships, schools and universities, and local communities. Conservation horticulture plays a vital role in supporting all plant conservation efforts.
Climate change impacts play a strong role in the region. Work is needed to plan for disaster management and to prepare, mitigate and restore in the face of climate change.
Thrity and Shelby White
META ABSTRACT: TREE CONSERVATION SESSIONS Prioritise, plan, act and monitor – promoting an integrated approach to threatened tree conservation
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) promotes a holistic, integrated approach to the conservation and management of plant diversity. The ultimate aim of BGCI’s Tree Conservation Program is that no tree species become extinct. A coordinated, integrated approach to global tree conservation is needed, as the State of the World’s Trees, published in 2021 indicates that almost 30% of all tree species are threatened with extinction. BGCI’s Tree Conservation Program is integrating threatened tree conservation through four actions – prioritise, plan, act and monitor – to protect the world’s tree species from extinction with partners worldwide. In this session, we will showcase the varied approaches used to further the conservation of tree species.
PRIORITISE
Effective tree conservation requires information and tools to guide and prioritise action. The Global Tree Assessment is an initiative to assess the conservation status of all the world’s tree species, led by Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the IUCN Species Survival Commission Global Tree Specialist Group. Here we present the progress of the Global Tree Assessment towards our goal of an IUCN Red List assessment for every tree species with a focus on Central America and the Caribbean. However completing IUCN Red List assessments isn’t enough. Tree extinctions can only be avoided if the best possible information is available and then used to inform conservation decisions made by practitioners, policy makers and funders.
PLAN
Conservation action can be planned at species level but also at the national, regional and taxonomic group levels. All together, resources as made available by BGCI including the Global Tree Portal, Conservation Action Tracker, Recovery Plans, national conservation planning work and taxonomic group-level conservation planning, inform the selection of priority sites and species to develop integrated tree conservation initiatives and funding applications. Ground surveys are key to updating the information on baseline populations and understanding of threats and ecology for the species to enable the development of recovery plans.
ACT
The information available through the Global Tree Assessment is crucial to guide tree conservation action. While the challenges and scale of the problem in maintaining tree diversity are significant, the Global Trees Campaign initiative has worked to conserve over 400 threatened tree species in more than 50 countries. These projects carry out direct tree conservation action, collaborating closely with local partners worldwide. The full engagement and participation of local stakeholders is key to the success and lasting impact of all tree conservation initiatives. Technical challenges can be multiple and complex, building stakeholder capacity and partnerships facilitates the sharing of experiences, improves practices and increases success. We will showcase examples of tree conservation projects currently being implemented in the Central American and Caribbean region in countries such as the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti and Puerto Rico.
MONITOR
Project monitoring is the routine collection and analysis of information about project progress and whether expected results are being achieved. To track progress annually, BGCI has developed a thorough system of monitoring and evaluation where project activities are reviewed and amended as necessary, based on new findings or on unforeseen events, including natural and man-made hazards and changes.
An example of integrated conservation encompassing the Prioritise-Plan-Act-Monitor framework are the Global Conservation Consortia. The global botanic garden community is establishing a series of consortia of specialists with knowledge of genera that are technically challenging to conserve and manage. Eight such consortia have been established to date, including for cycads, and Magnolia. The Global Conservation Consortium for Magnolia (GCCM), led by Atlanta Botanical Garden, is a coordinated network of institutions and experts who work collaboratively to develop and implement a comprehensive conservation strategy to prevent extinction of the world’s Magnolia species.
Collaboration is needed to most effectively conserve the world’s tree species. Strengthening the networks already in place, sharing of information and experiences and developing new partnerships is key to protecting the region’s unique tree flora.
For Tropic Ventures Research & Education Foundation, 2021 began with Naples Botanical Garden in Florida securing a grant from the Association of Zoological Horticulture to fund the building of a new tree nursery at our project in Patillas, Puerto Rico, after the devastation of all our tree nurseries in Hurricane Maria in 2017. Following this, the 2021 Botanical Gardens Conservation International & Global Tree Campaign agreement and grant opportunity to survey for two threatened endemic species was a huge accomplishment; a proposal for the conservation of two Puerto Rican endemic trees, Garcinia portoricensis & Ravenia urbanii. Thrity Vakil, director of TVREF, immediately set about creating a diverse team comprised of plant and tree experts, and experts in the fields of ecology, biology, taxonomy, bryology, mycology, and zoology. (TVREF is also known as Eye on the Rainforest, which is the name of its website).
Take a short drone flight over Las Casas de la Selva, Sustainable Forestry & Rainforest Enrichment Project, established in 1983 in Patillas, Puerto Rico. August 2021. Footage by Brent Foley, Production by Alfredo Lopez.
Earthday Botanical Survey 2021, at Las Casas de la Selva, Sustainable forestry & Rainforest Enrichment Project in Patillas, Puerto Rico. Filmwork: Raymesh Cintron, Narrator: 3t Vakil, Soundtrack: Andrés Rúa
“Re-examining Crises as Opportunities for Change: Sustainable Forestry, Log salvage, and Hardwood production after extreme social, ecological & technological disturbances in Puerto Rico.” Since 2014, the Yale University Chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF) has awarded an Innovation Prize at its annual conference to honor outstanding initiatives and ideas related to tropical forest use and conservation. Thrity was selected as one of three finalists to tell the story of Las Casas de la Selva, Puerto Rico Hardwoods, and the Institute of Ecotechnics. February 2021 Images and footage: 3t Vakil, Andrés Rúa, Tom Marvel, & Greg Byers.
Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm on the morning of 20th September 2017. Tropic Ventures Sustainable Forestry and Rainforest Enrichment Project established 35 years ago, lay directly in her path. This is 3t’s visual story of the impact of Hurricane Maria on the rainforest project in Patillas, on the land known as Las Casas de la Selva, southeast Puerto Rico.
Film and photos by 3t Vakil, and Andrés Rúa. Edited by Corinna MacNeice. Use headphones to appreciate the soundscape.
“Seas, rain forests, and saving coral reefs” Long Lost Friends talks with 3T Vakil
“Painting and saving forests in Puerto Rico” Long Lost Friends talks with 3T Vakil
“Saving Endangered Trees” Long Lost Friends talks with 3T Vakil
EARTHDAY BOTANICAL EXPEDITION at Las Casas de la Selva, 22nd April 2021
On Earthday 2021, a team of intrepid plant experts will spend the day in the Las Casas forest on a major survey, to scout for rare and endangered endemic species, and to identify everything along the journey. The team will identify trees, shrubs, lianas, grasses, bryophytes, fungi, fauna, and whatever else they find!!
Las Casas de la Selva is collaborating with Botanic Gardens Conservation International via the Franklinia Foundation, a private foundation established in Switzerland. BGCI is a registered charity and company in England and Wales, and in the U.S. as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. www.bgci.org
Chad Washburn, Director of the Naples Botanical Garden in Florida, USA. NBG is working with the team at Las Casas de la Selva throughout the process, and will join them in the field later in 2021.
In January 2021, Las Casas de la Selva successfully applied for a grant through Naples Botanical Garden to build a shade tree nursery at the project. The Association of Zoo Horticulture, (AZH), provided this grant.
See the video of this Earthday Botanical Survey 2021, at Las Casas de la Selva, Sustainable forestry & Rainforest Enrichment Project in Patillas, Puerto Rico. https://youtu.be/i2t4ISqMbIk
Thrity (3t) Vakil serves as President of Tropic Ventures Research & Education Foundation at Las Casas de la Selva, a 1,000 acre Sustainable Forestry & Rainforest Enrichment Project in SE Puerto Rico, established in 1983, as a demonstration project to encourage similar practice in the Caribbean and globally, and as a contribution to economic development, that encourages local protection and sustainable management of secondary tropical forests. 3t has worked on tree planting, tree-id, selective harvesting, milling, and wood-drying operations for two decades, and has led sixty Earthwatch research teams into the forest, observing, measuring, monitoring, and planting, hundreds of trees. 3t directs endangered species conservation & recovery within the Tropic Ventures forest, propagates trees, and is currently surveying the land with a team of world-class botanists to locate critically endangered species in a collaboration with Botanical Gardens Conservation International. From a background in theater design and scenic art, and an Associate of the Institute of Ecotechnics since 1990, 3t has hands-on experience in a range of fields: ecology, expeditions, event management, arts, performance, and theater. On a major coral reef research expedition in the mid 90’s, 3t served three years as Assistant to the Expedition Chief, diving on remote coral reefs in the Red Sea & Indian Ocean, on the Institute’s Research Vessel Heraclitus, also crossing the Atlantic and Mediterranean Oceans. In 2015, 3t co-founded Puerto Rico Hardwoods, Inc. with Andrés Rúa, and from 2017 pioneered efforts in Puerto Rico to save hundreds of downed valuable hardwood trees after Hurricane Maria, that were destined for landfill. 3t is a Fellow of the Linnean Institute, a Fellow of the World Academy of Art & Science, and an accomplished artist. In 2021, 3t won an Innovation award from Yale University’s International Society of Tropical Foresters.
Steve Maldonado Silvestrini studied Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. Currently, he is an independent researcher on Neotropical Botany, Ecology and Taxonomy focused on the insular Caribbean, at the UPRRPR Herbarium. His studies aim to develop data on coastal plant communities, coastal habitats, and exotic species being introduced to the Caribbean. He is mixing both professions on what he proposes as non-anthropocentric or post-anthropocentric architecture, architecture for non-humans or not centered on human needs, but on an ecologically inclusive approach.
Roberto Enrique Bello alias Roqui,
was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He double majored in Zoology and
Anthropology at Michigan State University, and completed a Master’s in
Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. Passionate
about natural history and exploration, he worked or interned at various
institutions such as the Museum of Zoology at MSU, the Museum of Vertebrate
Zoology at UC Berkeley, the National Museum of Natural History at the
Smithsonian, the Marine Biology Laboratory in Woods Hole MA, and the
Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica. Before settling back in PR
he embarked on a personal sabbatical through 13 Latin American countries
visiting nature reserves, archaeological sites, research stations, animal
rescue facilities, etc. Upon his return to Puerto Rico, relevant job
opportunities were scarce but he saw an opportunity in ecotourism. With the
help of friends, he designed and developed an ecotourist enterprise in 40
acres of leased land in the Mameyes River drainage of Luquillo and adjacent
to El Yunque National Forest. He managed this land and enterprise for almost
a decade, until the hurricanes of 2017 turned the page and finished that
chapter. Today Roqui is 46 years young and works as an independent
environmental consultant on various projects concerned with natural resource
management and biodiversity conservation.
Eugenio Santiago Valentín formally trained in botany at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) in Mayagüez and at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is a Full Professor in the Department of Biology at the UPR in Río Piedras and is the director of the Herbarium of the UPR Botanical Garden. He has taught courses in biology, botany, plant taxonomy, ethnobotany, island biogeography and evolution. His areas of study include plant systematics and taxonomy, biogeography, plant conservation, history of science, and ethnobotany. His work focuses on the island of Puerto Rico and the insular Caribbean, where he has developed local and international collaborations. He has also participated with government agencies and non-for-profit organizations in initiatives for the recovery of threatened plants, for the public dissemination of scientific knowledge, and for the launching of activities to link science, nature, and the humanities.
Alejandro Cubiñá, President and owner of Reforesta, Inc. in San Juan Puerto Rico. UPR-RP graduate from the Masters in Science program under T. Mitchell Aide. Obtained a BA from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. Conducted extensive research in tropical forest restoration in Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. Has led the biggest wetland restoration projects in challenging environments such as freshwater-forested wetlands on the island of Puerto Rico. Currently, Reforesta has the biggest privately owned native tree nursery in Puerto Rico and continues to add new species into its stock of over 8,000 trees. In addition to the ecological restoration work, Alejandro has conducted numerous flora and fauna surveys, wetland delineations, and prepared restoration plans. These surveys have led to the discovery of new populations of plant species such as Goetzea elegans, Ottoschulzia rhodoxylon, Myrcia paganii, and Libidibia monosperma.
Dr. Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez (Ph.D., City University of New York, 1989) is a researcher and curator in the United States National herbarium at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC. He specializes in phylogenetic studies of the neotropical members of family Sapindaceae (Maples), especially of tribes Paullinieae (with ca. 500 species of climbing plants) and Melicocceae (ca. 75 species of trees and treelets); floristics of the neotropical lowlands, especially of the West Indies; diversity and floristic studies of neotropical climbing plants (lianas and vines, with about 700 genera); and botanical history in Puerto Rico. He has over 30 years of experience collecting and recording plants in the field, and numerous publications in his areas of expertise, as well as a website on West Indian botany and Lianas and climbing plants of the Neotropics.
Octavio Rivera Hernández is an agronomist graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus (UPRM), where he completed the Agronomy and Soil Sciences programs respectively. Octavio has worked as a researcher at the UPRM and the Pennsylvania State University. There he contributed and collaborated on topics such as nutritional value of crops, post-harvest management and mycotoxin-producing phytopathogenic fungi. In 2018, he was the recepient of the Luis de Celis Prize, an award given by the Agro-environmental Sciences Department at the UPRM. Currently, he gives farmers recommendations and orientation regarding conservation practices, fertilization and pest control. Octavio also participates in the documentation and identification of native and introduced plant species in Puerto Rico.
Magha Garcia Medina is an eco-farmer and environmental activist in Puerto Rico. She is a member of Organización Boricuá, a grassroots group of farmers, environmentalists and other allies who advocate for agroecology, agroforestry, and the protection of natural resources. She is a collaborator at Las Casas de la Selva, the project that inspired her to find land and contribute with the restoration and the protection of local forests. In the last ten years, Magha had dedicated herself to the development of Pachamama Forest Garden on the west side of Puerto Rico. Her main activities involve research, rescue, and propagation of native and novel crops, as well exotic plants of the humid tropic region. Magha’s interests focus on agroecology/agroforestry/food sovereignty/human rights/seed saving/botany.
Amelia Merced is a plant biologist working with bryophytes, (plants that includes mosses, liverworts and hornworts). She is interested in diversity and distribution of bryophytes, the role of bryophytes in Puerto Rican forests, and how these plants respond to anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic disturbances. She works for the USDA Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry, and collaborates with the Herbarium of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, where she works with the bryophyte collection. She is currently surveying the bryophyte flora of the island, and preparing guides to common bryophytes of PR, including El Yunque National Forest, and community and urban forests. Other projects are to assess the distribution and current status of the peatmoss Sphagnum in Puerto Rico, and habitat preferences of bryophytes in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. Amelia Merced-has a BA in science and MS in biology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez and a PhD in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. She was a NSF GK-12 fellow in PR and IL working with schoolteachers to integrate inquiry activities in science classes of schools rural areas. She was a mentor and role model for the PBS Kids show ‘SciGirls’ filmed in PR and was featured in the Nat Geo web series ‘I Can Science’. Dr. Merced has 14 peer-reviewed publications, research awards recognitions, and has trained and mentored undergraduate students in various bryophyte identification and ecological projects.
Kurt Miller is a Washington native with a background in agriculture and tropical fungal taxonomy. He has collaborated with several prominent mycologists, including recent Distinguished Mycologist Award recipient, Dr. Jean Lodge at USDA’s Northern Research Station in El Yunque, and his work with Harvard mycologist Lawrence Millman can be seen in Fungi Magazine. Kurt received a BFA from Western Washington University and studied agriculture at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez. He served in the US Coast Guard for 5 years as a Marine Science Technician fulfilling the Marine Environmental Response mission in Puerto Rico, eventually certifying as a translator. During and subsequent to his service, he has documented over 200 macrofungi in the Caribbean region, many of which are unreported in previous surveys. Several of these new taxa are currently being cultured and assessed for their culinary and commercial viability in Huerto Rico’s laboratory. Kurt has also led several educational and outreach events to teach school groups and the community about the importance of fungi in the environment.
Carlos Laboy holds an Associate Degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico in Humacao. His best attribute is a keen and instinctive knowledge of the natural world. He has the honor of having a fungus named after him. Laboy has worked for both state and federal conservation agencies in Puerto Rico (DNER and U.S. Forest Service). With DNER he collected data on the behavior and reproduction of wild parrots to assist in the development of techniques to increase parrot productivity, fertility, and survival. He also participated in the Rio Abajo parrot suitability study. In addition, duties included collection of samples on the lagoons, sanctuaries, and estuaries throughout the Island. At El Yunque, with the Forest Service, he continued management work of the wild and captive parrot populations. During his time in the rainforest, he rediscovered unaccounted populations of listed plants such as Palo de Jazmín (Styrax portoricensis), chupacallos (Pleodendron macranthum), and numerous other rare species. Since 2007, Carlos has worked with Reforesta, Inc. in the implementation of wetland restoration projects across Puerto Rico, and conducting flora and fauna surveys as well.
Christian Torres Santana is the Forestry Partnerships Leader for Latin America for Terraformation and consulting botanist and arborist. With an MS in Botany from the University of Hawaii, a BSA in Horticulture from UPR Mayagüez, a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown University, he is currently completing an Executive MBA from the Inter American University, PR. Christian has worked extensively with rare and threatened plants in Hawai‘i and the Caribbean. In 2014, after nearly a decade as a botanist with the US FWS and the US Forest Service’s International Institute of Tropical Forestry, he became the director of the Doña Inés Park Arboretum in San Juan, PR. He led research, education, and conservation efforts for the native plant collection. Over the past 15 years, Christian’s work has specialized in pollination biology, forest health, biodiversity conservation, particularly on rare plant conservation, conservation horticulture, and environmental education. He recently received the Marsh Award for International Plant Conservation from Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the Kittleman Scholar for Aspiring Public Garden Leaders from the American Public Garden Association. He is a certified international Arborist, a Professional Horticulturist, and a Licensed Agronomist in Puerto Rico.
