Santo Domingo’s Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso National Botanical Garden (JBN) has officially launched the 22nd volume of its prestigious Moscosoa Scientific Journal, marking a significant resurgence of botanical scholarship in the Caribbean region. This comprehensive 193-page edition represents both a scientific milestone and a heartfelt homage to the late Dominican botanist Brígido Peguero, whose groundbreaking work and advocacy for social justice left an indelible mark on the nation’s botanical sciences.
The newly released volume, meticulously produced by the JBN’s Botany Department under the leadership of Teodoro Clase, features seven groundbreaking scientific articles that advance our understanding of Caribbean flora. These contributions from both national and international researchers encompass critical areas including the identification of previously undocumented plant species, innovative conservation methodologies, and detailed analyses of regional flora distribution patterns. A special commemorative section honors Peguero’s multifaceted legacy as an educator, research scientist, and champion of environmental justice.
JBN Director General Pedro Suárez emphasized the publication’s dual significance as both a tribute to botanical heritage and a forward-looking scientific resource. ‘This volume not only honors Brígido Peguero’s immense contributions but also signals the journal’s formal return after a publishing hiatus, reestablishing its role as an essential reference for botanical research in the Dominican Republic and throughout the Caribbean basin,’ Suárez stated during the launch event.
The botanical institution simultaneously announced substantial modernization initiatives for the publication, including the adoption of advanced digital publishing platforms and strategic efforts to secure inclusion in international scientific databases. These developments were revealed alongside a preview of the forthcoming Volume 23, which will feature a special focus on the collaborative ‘Magnolia Forests’ research project conducted with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and other partner institutions.
A significant enhancement in the new volume is the comprehensive revision of the journal’s ‘Instructions for Authors’ guidelines, implemented to elevate scientific rigor, ensure editorial transparency, and enhance global visibility within the international botanical research community.