News Published: 05 December 2024

The Caribbean and Central American Botanic Gardens Network (CCABGN) is dedicated to fostering spaces where members can share experiences and expertise, addressing the unique challenges faced by botanical gardens and related institutions across the region.

In partnership with BGCI, Jardín Botánico Universidad de San Carlos (CECON-USAC), Naples Botanical Garden, and the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve, CCABGN hosted a transformative Conservation Horticulture Workshop in November 2024. Over four immersive days, 34 participants from nine Mesoamerican countries and 22 institutions engaged in a dynamic program of talks, hands-on activities, and field trips.

The workshop focused on key topics such as conservation education, communication strategies, plant collection management, seed banking, propagation techniques, and the role of ethnobotany in conservation. These valuable skills will enhance the participants’ existing plant propagation efforts, equipping them to make a stronger impact in their home countries.

Facilitators from Guatemala, Mexico, and Colombia delivered an enriching experience, blending practical conservation knowledge with cultural exchange. Hosted by the dedicated team at Jardín Botánico CECON-USAC, the event exemplified the power of regional collaboration.

This training directly supported and enhanced capacity for multiple targets outlined in the Plant Conservation Strategy for the Caribbean Region. Participants gained essential skills for understanding and documenting plant diversity, conserving plant diversity and using it sustainably, promoting education and awareness about plant diversity, and building institutional and professional capacity for plant diversity, all of which are the four objectives of the strategy. By addressing these objectives, the workshop fosters a unified effort to conserve the region’s unique and irreplaceable plant diversity.

Now, armed with new tools and insights, participants will bring their knowledge back to their institutions, amplifying the impact of this training across the region. At CCABGN, we believe that collaboration and knowledge-sharing are the most effective strategies to conserve the extraordinary plant diversity of the Caribbean and Central America.

To learn more about the Plant Conservation Strategy for the Caribbean Region, please visit https://botanicalbridges.com/resources/ where you can find the Strategy in both English and Spanish.