A conservation team has uncovered a native magnolia tree in a Haitian forest for the first time since 1925 when it was thought to be extinct.
The northern Haiti magnolia (Magnolia emarginata) once grew in the forest of Morne Colombo, which has since been lost due to deforestation. Its flowers are pure white and its leaves are formed strangely.
It was listed on the red list of threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and its discovery has spurred new optimism for the eventual rewilding of Haiti’s woods.
Due to the rapid reduction of forest space, barely 1% of the country’s original forest exists, and as a result, much native flora can now only be found in inaccessible mountains or ravines.
A team from the Haiti National Trust traveled to Haiti’s longest mountain range, Massif du Nord, in quest of the elusive magnolia because they believed it could live in elevated environments.
On the third day of the excursion, the team discovered a tree and acquired the first photographs of the plant. They quickly discovered sixteen flowering trees in various stages of development, as well as young plants in the first stages of growth.
According to them, these results suggest that even more of the species may exist in the region. After identifying the trees, they gathered DNA samples and intend to return in late October to collect seeds.
On the island of Hispaniola, which includes the Dominican Republic, the Haiti National Trust has successfully cultivated four different native magnolia varieties. They intend to use their experience to assist local communities in contributing to restoration efforts and to establish a nursery in the future.
Eladio Fernández, director of communications for the Haiti National Trust and expedition leader, expressed excitement about the discovery of this once-extinct species.
Despite the sad condition of the country’s devastated forests, it nevertheless harbors species like these that are found nowhere else on earth, providing us the chance to rescue them,” he said.
