Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future: A New Generation of Plant People
Field Collection and Herbarium Specimen Preparation Class, March 2025, Las Casas de la Selva, Puerto Rico
At the Institute of Ecotechnics, sustainable forestry is not only about managing trees. It is about nurturing whole systems of knowledge, culture and ecological understanding. Las Casas de la Selva, our long-term forest enrichment project in Puerto Rico, embodies this approach by linking science, education, conservation, and hands-on field practice. The work carried out here demonstrates how ecological projects thrive when learning and mentorship become core elements of sustainable management.
In March 2024, we hosted a Field Collection and Herbarium Specimen Preparation class in the forest. Led by Distinguished Professor James Ackerman, one of the most respected plant explorers in the Caribbean, the workshop introduced young botanists to fundamental skills needed for long-term conservation. Herbarium collections form the scientific backbone of sustainable forestry. They document the species present in a landscape, record ecological change through time, and support the research that guides restoration decisions.
Participants included Erid Román-Rosario, a dedicated member of our botanical team, and Jon Warwick, who has been working in the nurseries with 3t Vakil over the last year. Both are emerging plant people whose curiosity and commitment strengthen the project every day. Under Jim Ackerman’s guidance, they learned techniques for specimen collection, documentation, and preparation. These are the tools that allow forests to be understood, managed and protected for future generations.
For 3t, this workshop held special meaning. Years ago she learned these same skills in this same forest also with a fair share of Jim Ackerman’s teaching. Seeing him now pass that knowledge to the next generation reflects the long-term continuity that defines the work of the Institute of Ecotechnics. Sustainable forestry depends on people who understand ecosystems deeply, and who are prepared to carry this work forward.
Mentorship is part of how Las Casas de la Selva continues to evolve as a living ecological laboratory. From rare plant propagation to forest management research, from sustainable timber to cultural programs, each activity contributes to a broader vision that integrates science, art, and responsible land stewardship. The work with young botanists ensures that the knowledge needed to protect forests like these remains alive and active.
We are committed to conserving rare species such as Ravenia urbani. We are equally committed to developing the plant people who will care for these forests long into the future. This workshop stands as one more example of the diverse and interconnected work that defines the Institute of Ecotechnics and its dedication to sustainable forestry around the world.
