Norfolk, VA – Horticultural and environmental researchers will travel to a remote area of Ecuador
this month, as the first step on a mission to duplicate a small-scale representation of the region as part of a children’s garden in Norfolk, Virginia. World of Wonders – A Children’s Adventure Garden, currently under construction at Norfolk Botanical Garden, is a 3-acre garden designed for and dedicated entirely to teaching children about plants and the invaluable role they play in human survival. Among other things, WOW will feature six “Passport Gardens” showcasing a specific
location on the globe that will be used to teach about various world biomes: the Serengeti Savannah; Werewocomoco Woods; Ithaca Isle; Oodnadatta Outback; Kamchatka Taiga and the Choco Rainforest.
The Choco region of Ecuador was chosen to represent tropical rainforests because it is an epicenter for bio diversity where flora and fauna from Central American, Amazonian and Andean ecosystems mix and mingle. Off the coast is where the cold Humboldt and warm El Nino ocean currents collide, making it one of the wettest climates on Earth. The Choco is also a Pleistocene Refuge, a rare biological island that escaped the massive extinctions of the last Ice Age, and so is home to one of the oldest nurseries on the planet. It has been named one of the top ten ‘hotspots’ (conservation priorities) on earth by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Conservation International (CI) and the
United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP).
Striving for accuracy and authenticity, NBG’s Director of Horticulture Mark Weathington, Director of Education Ann Parsons, and Children’s Garden Manager Patrick Mulligan will visit this fascinating region and spend 10 days living with a group of indigenous peoples known as the Chachi, to experience life in the rainforest first-hand. The group will start its 6000 mile journey August 15th, and will return to Hampton Roads on the 26th, bringing back knowledge of various native jungle plants and their traditional uses, artifacts for use in the World of Wonders and a partnership to benefit both cultures.
NBGS will work closely with El Moello Ecuador Foundation (EMEF), a nonprofit, charitable organization that strives to preserve the Ecuadorian rainforest. In 2000, EMEF enabled the Chachi to gain legal title to their ancestral territory and add 24,000 acres to the ecological reserve on which they live. Norfolk Botanical Garden will be looking to help the progress made by bringing attention to this endangered area and at a community level by supporting the Chachi’s local economy through the sale of handmade crafts at the Garden gift shop.
The mission of Norfolk Botanical Garden is to enrich life by promoting the enjoyment of plants and
the environment through beautiful gardens and educational programs. The garden is open to the public 365 days a year. Visit www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org for photos, hours, special events and other information.
