Conservation of seven threatened Magnolia species in Colombia’s Eastern Cordillera

Conservation of seven threatened Magnolia species in Colombia’s Eastern Cordillera

Partner: Asociación Colombiana de Botánica (ACB)
Years: 2024-2027

This project focusses on the propagation and reintroduction of seven threatened Magnolia species and on raising awareness of stakeholders involved in their conservation. An alliance between the Asociación Colombiana de Botánica, the Bogotá Botanical Garden “José Celestino Mutis” and experienced conservationists delivers the work. Bogota’s Botanical Garden has historically focused its work efforts on the Eastern Cordillera, this project is an important opportunity for improving its conservation actions and results.

Magnolia arcabucoana

With 40 species, Colombia is the second country in the world with the highest diversity for the genus Magnolia, all of them threatened with extinction in the wild due to high pressures for land use changes. The Eastern Cordillera of the Andes is the second area in Magnolia’s diversity in Colombia and has been less studied than the other two Cordilleras.
This project seeks to support the recovery of the populations of seven threatened Magnolia species (Magnolia arcabucoana, M. argyrotricha, M. betuliensis, M caricifragrans, M. cespedesii, M. georgii and M. santanderiana) in Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Santander and Tolima departments, through propagation, reintroduction, raising local capacities and awareness.
The specific objectives are (i) to create a baseline of specific locations, herbarium/tissue collections for all species and ecological/phenological data for five of the species to build the species Conservation Action Plans; (ii) to establish a propagation, reintroduction and ex situ conservation program for the seven Magnolia species and (iii) to raise awareness of the local communities and stakeholders of their role in Magnolia conservation.