Funded by The Botanist, via the Global Botanic Garden Fund

Project Completed: 2024

Institution: Jardin Etnobotánico Francisco Peláez R. A.C

Propagation of native wild plants for conservation in urban spaces

Introduction

The Ethnobotanic Garden has been very involved in the creation of urban gardens as spaces for cultivating native wild plants which are losing their natural habitat. These plants are not available in the nurseries of the region and, although the Garden has a nursery for propagation, the demand exceeds the present capacity of the Garden to propagate these plants. Making these plants available in the Garden’s nursery will generate the income necessary to make this activity self-sufficient.

Project Goals

To create the infrastructure to support the propagation of native wild plants and document the propagation techniques used.

Key Achievements

A shaded greenhouse was constructed and 17 propagation beds were created. Barrels of 100 litres were placed around the space to facilitate watering the plants and a tool shed was erected.

39 different species have been propagated sexually and vegetatively, since the shaded greenhouse was created.

The propagating of the plants was documented, including the methods used and the months in which propagation was carried out. The garden staff are in the process of creating a database of these species and this will be an ongoing process. 

The project helped to propagate regional wild plants and to promote their cultivation in urban areas, contributing to the conservation of these native species.