Floristic inventory in the Mesenia-Paramillo Reserve: a botanically unexplored hotspot in the Colombian Western Cordillera

Resumen

Colombia is a megadiverse country, but its rich and increasingly endangered flora remains poorly known in many areas. Today, the improved security situation has positioned Colombia at the frontier of biodiversity research and species discovery. The botanically unexplored Mesenia-Paramillo Reserve in the Western Cordillera lies in an area dominated by cloud forest and encompasses the boundary region of two biodiversity hotspots. Floristic elements from these two hotspots intermingle at Mesenia, resulting in a highly diverse and endemic flora. The Reserve is an exceptional conservation area for biodiversity research because it preserves large tracts of undisturbed forest in a region that has been heavily deforested. The primary goal of this project is to produce a comprehensive inventory of the Mesenia Reserve. The project will employ an innovative method to overcome the challenges of inventorying a mega-diverse and unstudied flora by enlisting dozens of participating botanists to take part in field collecting expeditions. The experience gained from two preliminary collecting trips has demonstrated the effectiveness of this collaborative approach and has already resulted in the discovery of at least twelve new plant species. The project will also recruit many additional taxonomic specialists to provide expert identification of collected specimens.

Citation: Wahlert, G.A., Hoyos Gómez, S.E. & Cardona Naranjo, F.A. 2025. Floristic inventory in the Mesenia-Paramillo Reserve: a botanically unexplored hotspot in the Colombian Western Cordillera. Revista Jard. Bot. Nac. Univ. Habana 46(Número especial 1): 106.

Trabajo presentado en el XIII Congreso Latinoamericano de Botánica. Sesión Biodiversidad y Conservación.