Mendel University launches Amazon tree conservation project

Mendel University in Brno (MENDELU) has launched an international project to protect the most endangered tree species in the Peruvian Amazon. Funded by the Swiss Franklinia Foundation, the initiative focuses on the Tingo María region to locate remaining populations of critically endangered trees.

Researchers from the university's Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology are targeting ten highly vulnerable species, six of which are classified as critically endangered by the IUCN. The project involves mapping species, collecting seeds, and establishing forest nurseries to cultivate saplings for eventual replanting in their natural habitats.

A notable early success includes the discovery of individuals of the critically endangered Elaeagia ambigua, a species about which very little information currently exists. The project also aims to engage local and indigenous communities in conservation efforts to combat deforestation caused by agricultural expansion and illegal logging.