 The American Orchid Society, an organization recognized as a world wide authority on orchids, has given the Vallarta Botanical Gardens a seed money grant to plan a meeting for orchid conservation in the “Cabo Corrientes” region of Mexico. This meeting will bring together people in conservation, scientists, ecologists and important local municipal officials to plan for conservation in the area, which is rich in orchid species.
This grant is significant for several reasons, in that it will promote an understanding among various persons and groups in the area, it will begin to study and catalog the many species of orchids in the region, and it serves as recognition of the important works being carried on at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens by the very prestigious AOS. In the past, such research grants have resulted in greater understanding of conservation issues, documentation of orchid species and on occasion the discovery of previously unknown species of orchids.
The Cabo Corrientes region is an area extending from the village of Boca de Tomatlan (just south of Mismaloya), to the town of Tomatlan, which is south of El Tuito, from the coast inland.
The Vallarta Botanical Gardens has a large and growing collection of orchids and other plants from the area. There is also a restaurant, a swimmin hole in the river and shade houses where young plants get their start. Orchids and a number of other tropical plants are available for sale.
The gardens are located 24 Km south of town, just 3 Km past Chico’s Paradise. The bus to El Tuito will stop at the entrance to the Gardens and will return you to town. There is a small fee for entrance to the gardens.
Visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens web site: www.vallartabotanicalgardensac.org for more information.
By Cynthia Beare
|
