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One of the nurseries growing rescued
plant species in madagascar.

One Million Trees and Beyond

“Only a poet-naturalist can do justice to this most elegant, graceful and
themselves in balance with the animals that live around and beneath
noble species…Only after a few years had elapsed I was fortunate to obtain
them for the health of all. Green also participates in domestic and
six little plants. They were set out on my place here at Naples…All the
international conferences and interacts with colleagues throughout
specimens I planted will be great ornaments of my place in the wilderness.”
the Caribbean.
~Dr. Henry Nehrling
Our commitment extends far beyond the grounds of our garden.
by Tim L. Tetzlaff, Director of Conservation, In 2009, we began planting trees in other countries including
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens planting four trees for every membership sold and one tree for every
student who visits on a field trip. I am honored to report that late last
he gargantuan Indian laurel fig year, we crossed the threshold of planting over one million trees!
trees you see by the pond along In 2018, Naples Zoo became the international headquarters of the
T Goodlette Road or that you stroll Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group (MFG), a consortium of zoos,
beneath within Naples Zoo at Caribbean gardens, and universities located on five continents. As over four out
Gardens near the Florida panther and the of five plant species on this island nation are found naturally only
new South American species are those there, the risk of extinction is extreme given Madagascar has already
specimens first planted in this soil in the lost 80% of its natural areas. But the success of MFG’s decades’ long
mid-1920s by garden founder Dr. Nehrling. reforestation efforts within and around the Betampona Strict Nature
Indeed, they have fulfilled their promise and have become the Reserve is hopeful. The Reserve was one of only two protected areas
“great ornaments” Nehrling envisioned – although Naples is no in Madagascar that grew over the last decade. I am beyond proud of
longer the wilderness he encountered when he arrived to our this accomplishment by the team of nearly 100 staff in Madagascar.
seaside town in 1919. In addition, the MFG has received two prestigious Darwin Initiative
From Nehrling’s original collection, many more trees were grants to rescue numerous rare species that are known only in small
added through the decades whose shade we now enjoy – a number forest fragments before they are also lost to deforestation. The team
of which have received historic recognition. Hundreds more records and preserves them in seed banks as well as plants them to
specimens have been added in just the last few years that you will maintain growing specimens at Parc Ivoloina, another site the MFG
find within and around the animals as well as rarely highlighted stewards.
palms that line the center walkway between the solar array in the None of this would be possible without the foundation of this
parking area to serve as a living laboratory and resource for local 105-year-old botanical garden, now a member of the American
landscape enthusiasts. Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation
A dedicated and passionate on-site horticulture team takes International, as well as being accredited by the Morton Register
great care in the stewardship of all these botanicals under the of Arboreta. And with these commitments, it’s heartening that
direction of Danielle Green, Director of Gardens and Grounds, there will be generations to continue growing the garden and to
a degreed horticulturist and certified arborist who served for walk in our footsteps beneath the shade of the mature trees we
years as President of the Association of Zoological Horticulture. have long enjoyed – and that these giant trees will remain landmark
Such is the expertise needed to blend the needs of the plants touchstones within our ever changing community.

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