In Santo Domingo, the Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso National Botanical Garden has marked a major milestone for global botanical science by officially inaugurating the international congress “Botanical Bridges 2026”, an initiative centered on advancing cross-border biodiversity conservation and strengthening collaborative research across the Latin American and Caribbean region. The opening ceremony, hosted at the venue’s iconic Domus Grande space, wove together vibrant cultural performances, formal addresses from leading national institutions, and opening academic dialogues, all framed to celebrate and center Dominican environmental and cultural heritage.
Throughout the inaugural proceedings, participating institutional representatives repeatedly underscored the urgent need for coordinated action among botanical organizations worldwide to address accelerating biodiversity loss. Lina Ramírez, a representative of the regional botanical garden network, told attendees that coordinated, cross-institutional joint efforts are not just beneficial, but essential, to successfully protect at-risk ecosystems and guarantee that natural resources can be used responsibly and sustainably for future generations.
For his part, Pedro Suárez, director of the host Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso National Botanical Garden, reaffirmed the institution’s longstanding dedication to advancing original botanical research and expanding public environmental education. He also highlighted that the timing of the congress holds special meaning, as it coincides with the garden’s 50th year of operations, research, and community engagement.
A key emotional and ceremonial highlight of the opening event was a formal tribute to Brígido Peguero, a pioneering Dominican biologist whose decades of work have fundamentally expanded global understanding of the Dominican Republic’s unique native flora. The ceremony also drew a roster of high-profile stakeholders, including Dominican First Lady Raquel Arbaje and Environment Minister Paíno Henríquez, alongside dozens of leading academic researchers and international delegation representatives from botanical institutions across the globe.
Moving forward, “Botanical Bridges 2026” will operate as an ongoing, open platform for scientific knowledge sharing and the cultivation of long-term cross-border partnerships, all aimed at advancing evidence-based biodiversity protection and inclusive sustainable development across the region.