Tree last seen 200 years ago rediscovered in Brazil

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
24 Sep 2023 15:31

The Pernambuco holly tree, feared to be extinct, is found in the city of Igarassu, in the state of Pernambuco state, by an expedition exploring the area and hoping to find it.

Image of a branch of a tree that was believed to be extinct, Ilex sapiiformis, better known as Ilex de Pernambuco, in Brazil (AFP)

Scientists are praising an "incredible find" that located a small holly tree, last seen two centuries ago, in Brazil.

The 'Ilex sapiiformis', also known as the Pernambuco holly tree, feared to be extinct was recently found in the city of Igarassu, in the state of Pernambuco state, by an expedition exploring the area and hoping to find it.

Re:wild, the conservation expedition that discovered it, posted on Instagram "The Pernambuco Holly is one of our top 25 most wanted lost species", adding: "It is the 9th of our most wanted lost species to be rediscovered since our Search for Lost Species launched in 2017."

The list of 2,200 missing species across 160 countries was compiled by Re:wild alongside experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and lists species lost to science for at least 10 years (although thought to be extinct for much longer.)

The global effort to rediscover the missing species has actually located at least eight of the top 25 and the team was able to locate four different Pernambuco Holly trees, identified by their tiny white flowers.

The urbanized city of Igarassu was once a dense tropical forest.

Project team member Juliana Alencar said in a statement: "It seemed that the world had stopped turning its gears," adding that "Nature surprises us. Finding a species that hasn't been heard of in nearly two centuries doesn't happen every day. It was an incredible moment."

Another member of the team described it "like finding a long-lost and long-awaited relative that you only know by old portraits."

The team leader, Gustavo Martinelli, hoped to launch a breeding program for the species, which according to Re:wild, he explained: "The search for more Pernambuco Holly trees isn't over yet! The team is hoping to organize additional searches with other local partners to find more individuals of the species".

"The goal is to collaborate with partners to better protect the forests where the Pernambuco Holly was found and establish a captive breeding program for the tree."