In situ conservation of an endangered tree in Eastern Bahoruco

Project Status: Completed 2025

Funded by: The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve via the Global Botanic Garden Fund

Project Partner: Jardin Botanico Nacional “Dr. Rafael Ma. Moscoso”

Introduction

This project focused on the conservation of the coquito cimarrón palm (Reinhardtia paiewonskiana), endemic to Eastern Bahoruco and critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List.

Project Goals

This project aimed to document the distribution, phenology and threats to Reinhardtia paiewonskiana in the wild and collect at least 100 seeds for in situ and ex situ restoration.

Key Achievements

A database was created using herbarium specimens and results obtained from four field trips. The species was identified in five localities of Eastern Bahoruco and all observations were georeferenced with photographs.

Phenology was estimated from herbarium data, collections, and field observations conducted. Major threats documented in situ included:
• Use of individuals for rural housing construction
• Proximity of mining operations
• Expansion of coffee cultivation into forested areas

These pressures, together with the absence of legal protection in natural areas, significantly increase the risk of extinction.

Just over 1,000 seeds were collected from three of the five reported localities and an experimental trial under laboratory and field conditions evaluated viability. The seeds were propagated producing 104 plants.

So far, one seedling has been used in in situ restoration, and three individuals have been added to the living collection of the Eugenio de Jesús Marcano Botanical Garden.