The National Tropical Botanical Garden Provides Safe Haven for At-Risk and Endangered Tropical Plant Species

Hawai‘i – Hawai‘i is home to more endangered plants and animals than almost all of the other states combined. Research shows that 90 percent of all biodiversity on the planet exists in the tropics, and more than one-third of all tropical plant species are threatened with extinction. Located in the only tropical climate zones in the United States, the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) is poised to address the crisis in extinction of tropical plants in Hawai‘i and the Pacific through discovery, scientific research, conservation and education.

Since 1970, researchers at NTBG have facilitated conservation and restoration initiatives to help preserve and protect rare species from natural as well as human threats to their survival, creating a safe haven for at-risk species. These conservation and restoration programs allow NTBG to focus on supporting plant conservation strategies including projects to control invasive and non-native species, watershed management, ecological monitoring, conservation education, and the preservation and protection of ethnobotanical (the use of plants in various cultures) and endemic (a plant native to a specific area) plants.

With the world’s largest assemblage of endemic plants from Hawai‘i, and the Pacific region, NTBG plays an important role in the preservation and perpetuation of tropical plants. NTBG is comprised of five unique gardens and three preserves including McBryde Garden, Allerton Garden, and Limahuli Garden and Preserve on the island of Kaua‘i; Kahanu Garden on Maui; The Kampong in Florida; and two preserves on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. Each collection focus varies from garden to garden, providing some overlap, widening NTBG’s conservation, research, and education value and efforts. While other major gardens can grow tropical plants in greenhouses “under glass,” NTBG’s nearly 1,800 acres of gardens and preserves afford a natural open-air environment in which these species flourish.

Among NTBG’s living collections are the native Hawaiian plants at McBryde Garden, many of which are threatened, endangered or even extinct in the wild. Species of particular interest are ulula, Brighamia insignis, a member of the Campanulaceae or Bellflower family. Brighamia is endemic to the Hawaiian islands of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau; only a few plants exist in the wild, on remote cliffs. Propagation of ulula has been one of NTBG’s great success stories. Another has been the propagation of Munroidendron racemosum, a beautiful small tree in the Araliaceae and Ginseng family. Extremely rare and endangered, Munroidendron is endemic to Kaua‘i and is found in the wild only in very few locations.

Limahuli’s native plant collections focus on species from northwestern Kaua‘i. These include rare and endangered species that are on the verge of extinction in the wild such as Pritchardia limahuliensis, or loulu, a native fan palm in the Arecaceae, or Palm family, found only in Limahuli Valley; Munroidendron racemosum, a member of the Araliaceae and Ginseng family, that is so rare that its Hawaiian name has been lost to time; and Hibiscus waimeae subsp. hannerae, or koki‘o ke‘oke‘o, a member of the Malvaceae, or Mallow family, which was once thought extinct until it was rediscovered deep in Limahuli Valley.

As NTBG continues to provide a safe haven for at-risk and endangered tropical plant species, such as those found in its living collections, the non-profit organization seeks the financial support of the community, private foundations, donors and members to help carry out its mission. As such, NTBG has launched a new membership campaign—Our Garden. Our World.—with new membership levels and benefits. Members’ dues help support the vital activities that make the difference in saving and understanding tropical plants, which are at the most risk of extinction. Memberships range from $50 to $1,000 and include unlimited admission for garden tours, 10 percent discount at the Garden Shops, members’ publications and invitations to NTBG lectures and events. Supporting Member ($500) and Silver Fellow ($1,000) membership levels offer additional benefits such as special edition Our Garden. Our World. gardening gloves or an Our Garden. Our World. t-shirt. To become a member, please call (808) 332-7324 x246 or visit OurGardenOurWorld.com.

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Caroline Witherspoon or Danielle Douglass
Becker Communications, Inc. (808) 533-4165