rare trees – Eye on the Rainforest

by thrity June 26, 2021

Nursery Build 2021

In early 2021 Tropic Ventures Research & Education Foundation partnered with Naples Botanical Garden in Naples, Florida, to prioritize efforts to conserve on-site species most at risk from extinction through seed banking, multiple off-site backup collections, development of propagation protocols, assessment of extinction risk for the IUCN Red List, and out-planting on the site. The Association of Zoological Horticulture provided a grant towards this endeavor. AZH is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the advancement of horticulture in zoos, zoological parks, botanic gardens, and aquariums.

Architect David Henebry, who has been volunteering his time and building skills at Las Casas since 2018, designed the nursery, and in March 2021 arrived on a 10 day trip, and with a team effort including 3t, Axel Rúa, & Diego Marvel, a strong, hurricane-resistant shade-tree nursery, and a small soils shed came into being, along with a 10’ x 10’ seed nursery, which is still in progress.

As a result of this partnership, the Botanic Gardens Conservation International via the Franklinia Foundation, & the Global Tree Campaign have started a new collaboration with us to survey for endangered endemic trees of Puerto Rico. We are over the moon about this.

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, will join us in the field later in 2021.

by thrity January 20, 2017

2017 Collaborations begin

19th January 2017: First planning meeting at Las Casas de la Selva about our next collaborative habitat restoration project, working with endemic and endangered Eugenia haematocarpa (Myrtaceae) on private lands in the Sierra de Cayey, and the vicinity of the Carite Commonwealth Forest.

This project is a collaboration between US Fish and Wildlife Service and Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources (PRDNER).

The tree we will be working with is Eugenia haematocarpa (uvillo), known only from the Caribbean National Forest in the Luquillo Mountains and on private property adjacent to the Carite Commonwealth Forest in the Sierra de Cayey. The Caribbean National Forest in the Luquillo Mountains has six distinct populations consisting of 119 individuals and the Carite population consists of 15 individuals.

L-R: Omar A. Monsegur Rivera, Rossana Vidal, José A. Sustache, Andrés Rúa, Ramón C. Rivera, Nilda Jiménez, Iván Llerandi Román

Images by 3t Vakil January 2017

Endangered plants Rare trees Research & Education Tree planting Tvref Collaboration Volunteer Groups Volunteers

by thrity December 7, 2015

Globalworks teenagers, Treeplanting, May 2015

Globalworks brought the whole of the 8th Grade from San Francisco Day School to Las Casas de la Selva, May 2015.

We hosted three teams consecutively, for three days each. This wonderful bunch of teens planted critically endangered endemic Cornutia obovata trees in the forest.

Thanks to SFDS teacher Chris Corrigan for his tremendous leadership skills, and the enthusiasm he has brought to Las Casas over the last several years on Globalworks expeditions. Thanks to all the wonderful staff and students for the hard-work planting these Cornutia obovata out in the forest, and for the wonderful evenings back at the homestead. We salute you all! Thank you also to Globalworks staff, and to Las Casas volunteers Alfredo Lopez and Helen Galli, for all their help.
All pix by 3t Vakil unless otherwise credited.

See more about this tree-planting project https://eyeontherainforest.org/?p=5462

Above: Chris Corrigan, Expedition leader, SFDS

Earthwatch Earthwatch gallery Education Endangered plants Frogs Herpetology Rare trees Research & Education Tvref Collaboration Volunteer Groups Volunteers

by thrity January 28, 2015

Earthwatch Team: December 2014 -January 2015

Back L-R: Stan Rullman Cindy Stieger, Margaret Baisley, PI Norman Greenhawk
Front L-R: PI 3t Vakil, Charlotte Field, Colleen Casey, Andrés Rúa
All pix on this page thanks to all above.

See Stan’s Blog about this trip!
https://earthwatchunlocked.wordpress.com/2015/04/30/from-trees-to-coquis-an-earthwatch-scientist-explores-puerto-ricos-rainforest/ 2015

Earthwatch gallery Education Endangered plants Rare trees Research & Education Tree planting Trees Tvref Collaboration Volunteer Groups Work

by thrity December 31, 2013

Earthwatchers at Las Casas

Planting endangered endemicsWe have an enthusiastic team of Earthwatchers here till the 6th January 2014. Continuing our collaborative project with Fish & Wildlife, we planted critically endangered endemic tree saplings, Styrax portoricensis and Cornutia obovata. To date 116 Styrax and 21 Cornutia have been planted in our spectacular secondary forest here in the Mira Flores mountain, better known as Las Casas de la Selva.

Alternative Spring Break Education Sustainable lifestyle Tree planting Volunteer Groups Volunteers

by thrity December 18, 2013

Why volunteer here?

Why volunteer at Las Casas de la Selva? See this 3 minute video by Ben Zenner.

This 3 min video was produced by Ben Zenner, a volunteer of Las Casas de la Selva in April of 2013. Ben is a videographer and graphic designer, and is in the process of developing a non profit design firm to help organizations with their online media presence and funding efforts, and to connect students and individuals with potential volunteer opportunities. For more information about Ben and his project called Volunteer Dream, check out his website: www.benzenner.com/

Thank you Ben!

Endangered plants News Rare trees Trees Volunteers

by thrity February 27, 2013

Volunteers

DJ and Niki Faller volunteered at Las Casas de la Selva in late February 2013. We carried endangered tree saplings (Styrax portoricensis) to various staging areas in the forest ready for planting.