CONSERVATION OF MAGNOLIAS IN CUBA

The Global Trees Campaign worked with the National Botanical Gardens in Havana on the conservation of Cuba’s eight Critically Endangered magnolias.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Cuba is host to eight Critically Endangered Magnolia species, none of which are currently held in ex situ collections anywhere in the world. One of the most significant challenges facing the ex situ conservation of Cuban Magnoliaceae is that the species tend to occur in montane and cloud forest ecosystems, therefore requiring very different conditions to those that are found in botanic gardens in Cuba.

To facilitate the establishment of an ex situ collection, the National Botanic Garden in Havana worked to assess each Critically Endangered species in the wild. By mapping each population and conducting habitat assessments, it gathered more information on each species allowing identification of its distriubtion outside of the National System of Protected Areas.

The project also worked on raising awareness of the most threatened species through an environmental education campaign. Local people also received training in Magnolia identification and conservation. Collaboration with local people improved knowledge of traditional methodologies for propagating Magnolia species, improving chances of these species acclimatizing in the botanic garden.

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