November 2010

• Between November 24 and November 26 Dr. Javier Francisco Ortega traveled to the Dominican Republic to enhance our current research and educational ties with the National Botanic Garden Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso (NBG-DR).  During this visit we worked on a schedule for joint projects for 2011.  They include research on conservation biology of endemic species of Pseudophoenix (Arecaceae) and the critically endangered endemic genus Salcedoa (Asteraceae). We also discussed collaborations through our graduate program and the Fairchild Challenge Satellite partners program. Top-left image. From left to right: Rosa Rodriguez (Coordinator of Conservation Biology activities), Francisco Jimenez (Head of the Botany Department), Brigido Peguero (Research Botanist), Javier Francisco-Ortega, Teodoro Clase (Field Botanist), and Natalia Ruiz (Botanist).  Top-right image. From left to right: Alberto Veloz (Research Botanist), Brigido Peguero, Javier Francisco-Ortega, Ricardo Garcia (Director), and Francisco Jimenez.

• Between October 25 and November 17 Dr. Hong Liu and Dr. Carl Lewis traveled to China to enhance our current research and educational ties with botanical gardens and institutions from this country. They visited the Hong Kong Kadoorie Farm and Botanical Garden; the Shenzhen Fairy Lake Botanical Garden; the
South China Botanical Garden; and the Botanic Garden of Beijing.   In addition, Dr. Hong Liu was one of the organizers of the 6th Asia Orchid Conservation Symposium and the 2nd Guangxi International Orchid Conservation Symposium. During this visit Dr. Hong Liu will also continue her research activities in conservation ecology of orchids at the the Yachang Orchid Preserve.