NURSERY PAGE

Begun onsite during the summer of 2000, our native plant nursery now contains several thousand plants of over 20 native species.  Our efforts have expanded to include a second site outside of the boundaries of the Reserve in the town of Tulum.  The nursery serves as a resource for our conservation and education programs.  Species raised onsite are used in our dune restoration program (for more information on selected dune species, click on flora link) and our environmental education initiatives.

NURSERY SITES:

Tulum

The Tulum nursery site is our newest location, started in February 2001.  The site is on the outskirts of the growing town of Tulum.  The nursery is divided into five sections:  dune plant propagation, native inland plants, species for constructed wetlands, selected ornamental, fruit, and vegetable species, and a designated area for our composting program.  Its proximity to the schools of Tulum make this site a prime location for educational projects and programs.      

Sian Ka'an

Plants are propagated through a variety of methods in our native plant nurseries onsite in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.  There are two principal growing sites, known as the Court and Grove sites. 

The Court site is currently our largest nursery site, containing the greatest variety of species.  This site is located on what once was a resort tennis court in the 1970s. Artificial shade in the form of netting has been provided in an effort to protect the small seedlings from excessive exposure to the sun and promote a faster growth rate.  This site contains two seed beds for the propagation of dune shrubs, tress, and vines, and one seed bed dedicated exclusively to the propagation of native grasses.  After germination, the seedlings are transplanted into bags containing a mixture of sandy soil and compost and remain in the nursery until large enough to thrive on the dune face.  Time spent in the nursery varies by species from several weeks to a year.

The Grove site is most conducive to the germination and growth of plants that require shade in their early stages of life, and is located in a naturally occurring grove of native chit palm (Thrinax radiata) and poisonwood trees (Metopium brownei).  Chit palm and sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) seedlings are the predominant species in the Grove site.

Dune Restoration Project

The aim of our dune restoration project at this time is to stabilize the erosion resulting from twenty years of disruption on the CESiaK site.  Plants grown in our on-site nursery are selected, placed, and transplanted onto the dune following a system developed through the observation of intact areas.      

During our Environmental Education Pilot Program in April, a small group of children helped our restoration effort by transplanting seedlings from the nursery onto the dune.  The children had explored the topics of dune erosion and restoration within the 5-week session in addressing our Program Question of conservation:  how do we find a balance between human activity and the natural environment?