Nursery and Gardens
Tree Propagation & Rare Species Conservation
Propagating timber tree species continues to be a core focus, along with maintaining a nursery for rare and endemic plants used in reforestation, habitat restoration, and conservation projects both here and across Puerto Rico.
In 2017, Hurricane María destroyed nearly two decades of nursery work, wiping out hundreds of young plants. With support from architect David Henebry, the first post-María nursery was built, marking a vital step toward recovery.
By 2020, Thrity Vakil, in collaboration with Chad Washburn, Director of Naples Botanical Garden in Florida, secured funding for a new shade-tree nursery. Constructed in 2021 by David Henebry, with the help of teenage and college-age volunteers, it now serves as a thriving center for propagation and training. This nursery has become the backbone of our forestry efforts, ensuring the long-term survival of threatened species while inspiring a new generation in the work of plant conservation.
Seed & Seedling Collection
Seed and seedling collection remains a continuous process. After several years of recovery from Hurricane María, many native trees resumed flowering and producing viable seed. These are carefully collected from the forest and cultivated in the nursery. The steady flow of propagated plants now supports ongoing reforestation projects, and volunteers continue to play a key role in every stage—from collecting seeds to tending seedlings.
Gardens
The project’s gardens contribute food, herbs, and spices for daily use. They also serve as demonstration plots, showing how small-scale cultivation can thrive within a rainforest context, balancing sustainability with practical needs.
Ethnobotanical Trail
Since 2003, volunteer teams have helped to create and maintain a forest ethnobotanical trail. This trail showcases rare endemic trees, medicinal plants, and species of cultural significance, weaving together ecological knowledge and human history. It continues to be enriched with new plantings that highlight both biodiversity and traditional uses of plants in Puerto Rico.
Visit & Volunteer
Today, the nursery, gardens, and ethnobotanical trail represent living examples of resilience, recovery, and renewal. Visitors are welcome to walk the trail, experience the diversity of Puerto Rico’s forest species, and learn about the work being carried out. Come breathe the rainforest air, see rare plants up close, and discover how conservation and cultivation are interwoven here. For those wishing to take part more directly, there are opportunities to volunteer in seed collection, nursery care, and garden maintenance—contributing hands-on to the ongoing effort to restore and protect the rainforest. Be in touch!