With hope and environmental commitment, the seeds of ceiba barrigona, a native and endemic species of the region that is currently in danger of extinction, begin to germinate in the nursery of the UIS Malaga Campus.
The initiative is led by students of the Forestry Engineering program, who decided to plant them as part of their academic training and their commitment to the conservation of local biodiversity.
According to professor Diego Suescún, the seeds were collected by the students of the “Los Cloroplastos” research group during a field trip on March 15 to the vicinity of Laguna de Ortices, in the municipality of San Andrés, and to the sector known as “El Embudo”, in the Chicamocha Canyon.
After approximately five weeks of monitoring, of the 150 seeds planted, 80% germination was obtained. Cristian Molina, a teacher in the forestry engineering program, also emphasized that this exercise is more than just a practical exercise.
“In class we theorized about processes such as germination, seed selection and collection. Now, we have a substrate preparation area and we better understand the specific needs of each species for its optimal development. In this case, we apply sand with rice husks so as not to retain so much moisture. This is a living laboratory for experimentation and research,” he said.
Laura Miranda, a sixth semester student, expressed her enthusiasm for this type of activity, noting that in addition to strengthening their knowledge, it allows them to actively participate in the propagation of a species that is difficult to reproduce in a nursery, especially under Malaga’s climatic conditions.
It is expected that these seedlings can be used to develop research, degree projects and even ecological restoration strategies.
It is important to remember that the ceiba barrigona, whose scientific name is Cavanillesia Chicamochae, belonging to the Malvaceae family, is characterized by dispersing its seeds with the help of the wind and growing on steep slopes of the Chicamocha Canyon.
These actions contribute significantly to the conservation of a vital species for the department and the country, whose permanence in time will depend on the continuity of this type of propagation efforts.
