Strengthening Montane Forest Conservation in Puerto Rico

Strengthening Montane Forest Conservation in Puerto Rico through Local Action and Partnerships

Partner: Atlanta Botanical Garden
Years: 2025-2028

Puerto Rico’s tropical montane forests face ongoing biodiversity loss, yet rare plant conservation efforts on the island remain under-resourced. This project strengthens the long-term conservation of threatened tree species native to these forests, aligning with the priorities of two local government agencies.

Through investments in employment, infrastructure, and knowledge sharing, Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG) leads the outplanting of 1,000 locally grown seedlings or cuttings from up to 11 threatened tree species across over 19,100 hectares of government-protected land – Callicarpa ampla (CR), Crescentia portoricensis (CR), Ilex cookii (CR), Ilex sintenisii (EN), Juglans jamaicensis (VU), Magnolia portoricensis (EN), Magnolia splendens (EN), Styrax portoricensis (CR), Ternstroemia luquillensis (CR), Varronia bellonis (EN).
In addition, ABG supports local conservation practitioners in engaging with the global conservation community by publishing or updating three IUCN Red List species assessments, developing publicly available bilingual propagation and outplanting protocols informed by project monitoring, and contributing to a peer-reviewed research manuscript. This project addresses eight impact indicators of Fondation Franklinia.