Tropical Forest Blog
Since its construction in 2006, our state-of-the-art Tropical Forest Conservatory has undergone major redesigns every three years to showcase the ecology of tropical forest regions around the world. As part of the three-year planning and design process behind our new Tropical Forest exhibit, Phipps staff members are traveling to Panama to study first-hand the region’s biodiversity hotspots, natural resources and culture. Follow their adventures!
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Jun 202016Santiago de Cuba
We got an early start at 2:30 a.m. today in order to catch our 6 a.m. flight from Havana to Santiago de Cuba. We met our new guide, Asiel, in the lobby and headed to the airport. In the airport, we entered the “Last Waiting...
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Jun 192016Ferns, Fruits and Mangroves on the Road to Havana
Today we began the long journey back to Havana, with a few stops along the way. We first visited a unique and somewhat eccentric botanic and herb garden owned by Carmen and Caridad Miranda. We learned that their father planted the...
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Jun 182016Farming, Endemic Birds and Cigars in Cuba
This morning started with a guided hike through Viñales National Park, a biodiverse area that is federally protected, with use of natural resources heavily monitored. For example, residents of the national park need to get...
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Jun 172016Endangered Cycads, Lush Peaks and Jurassic Valleys in Cuba
Today we left Soroa and drove west to an ecologically protected area called Mil Cumbres (Thousand Peaks), which is home to the highest concentration of endemic species in Cuba. Our guide, Osbaldo, met us and we hiked along a path...
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Jun 162016Octopus Orchids and Sulfurous Streams in Cuba
This morning we toured the local orquideario, or orchidarium, run by the University of Pinar Del Rio; they have 48 employees, ten of whom are gardeners, and two of whom are orchid specialists. Our guide mentioned that Cuba is home...
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Jun 152016Las Terrazas, Ginger Lilies, and Coffee in Cuba
Today we packed up and left Havana to head west to Soroa. Along the way we stopped at Las Terrazas, where we met Daniel, who told us all about the 5,000 hectare reforestation project and community. Las Terrazas, or “the...
