Conservation, education, and recognition of the National Flower of the Dominican Republic

Leuenbergeria quisqueyana is an extremely threatened member of the cactus family and the National Flower of the Dominican Republic, located on Hispaniola Island — a Caribbean Biodiversity Hotspot. The first global conservation assessment for this species, conducted in 2011, revealed that due to its limited geographical range, both in the area of occupancy (AOO) and the extent of occurrence (EOO), it qualified for the Critically Endangered category on the IUCN Red List. Over a decade later, its forest habitat has been dramatically reduced in size and quality due to infrastructure expansion for tourism development. Despite multiple conservation efforts, ongoing climate change continues to pose threats, and more information is needed to mitigate these risks. This project aimed to revise the conservation status of the species, filling knowledge gaps regarding its current distribution, population size and trends, threats, uses (if any), and other key factors. This updated assessment is essential for designing and implementing future conservation action plans to reduce the extinction risk of this Hispaniola endemic cactus. With project funding, an updated IUCN Red List species assessment was completed in 2023. The Bayahibe Rose (Pereskia quisqueyana), discovered by Henri Alain Liogier in 1977, belongs to the Cactaceae family and is one of the few cacti with leaves. It can grow up to six meters in height, is endangered, and is endemic to the Bayahibe area in the Dominican Republic.

Project Results

• Updated report on the conservation status of the Bayahibe Rose for the IUCN Red List
• 1 Bayahibe Rose Management Guide produced
• 3 educational videos/documentaries produced
• 34 planting events organized
• 10 partnerships with national institutions established
• 685 students trained on the importance of the Bayahibe Rose and how to care for it