By: Biol. Jesús Ángel Barajas
A core part of our mission is working with local communities to spread awareness of and enthusiasm for their natural heritage and what they can do to the unique biodiversity of western Jalisco.
On July 4 and 5 2005 we made a second visit to the community of El Cuale, to continue our educational efforts for the conservation of the Quercus cualensis, an endemic oak and threatened species. The two days were filled with creative and educational activities for a dozen enthusiastic children and several adults from the community.
We were once again lucky to have the participation of Adam Black from Bartlett Tree Research Labs and Arboretum (BTRLA), who assisted us during the workshop and botanical exploration. This time we also enjoyed the participation of the Temperate Forest Ecology and Conservation Laboratory at the Iztacala National Forest School (FES), led by Dr. Maribel Arenas Navarro.
We began with a painting workshop using natural dyes obtained from plant ingredients: turmeric, beets, spinach, coffee, and others. The children joyfully and creatively explored the chromatic possibilities of these pigments, bringing to life the oaks and animals of their environment via art. Afterwards, they played the “Mexican Fruit, Vegetable, and Spice Lottery” organized by the HERDEZ Foundation, a gift from Casa Doña María Pons in San Luis Potosí.
Finally, as part of our conservation efforts, we collected Q. cualensis acorns for later germination in our greenhouse, and four young oak trees were planted in the community’s central plaza with the permission of local authorities.
We’ll have more news soon about another of our endemic oaks considered in this conservation project: Quercus tuitensis. Don’t miss future issues of The Leaflet.
