SANTA FE, NM – Ciénegas, or marshlands, are unique and rare in the Southwest, and are disappearing due to land misuse and invasive species moving in. Just south of Santa Fe, next door to Rancho de las Golondrinas, lies the Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve, a cienega managed by the Santa Fe Botanical Garden. And on September 7, Botanical Garden staff are launching a 24-hour Bio Reverie, during which they are identifying as many species of flora and fauna as possible.
“We are extremely lucky to have a cienega near Santa Fe and it is our duty to preserve this unique resource for our local flora and fauna,” says Zac Carlson, Dancing Star Foundation Program Coordinator for the Santa Fe Botanical Garden. “There are species that are found in cienegas that are not found elsewhere in the Santa Fe region – dragonflies, unique birds, invertebrates, and unique vegetation.”
Carlson is organizing the general public and volunteers to help him identify as many species as possible through activities led by local docents and scientists. Activities for all ages include pond-dipping, guided walks, bee surveys, insect netting, and more.
The entire 24-hour period is funded by Dancing Star Foundation, which recently awarded Santa Fe Botanical Garden a grant to study biodiversity and the effects of climate change at the Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve.
To learn more, see the schedule of events and sign up to participate in the Bio Reverie, visit santafebotanicalgarden.org. Thank you for supporting our Northern New Mexico ecosystem!
About the Santa Fe Botanical Garden
The Santa Fe Botanical Garden celebrates, cultivates, and conserves the rich botanical heritage and biodiversity of our region. In partnership with nature, we demonstrate our commitment through education, community service, presentation of the arts, and the sustainable management of our Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve and Botanical Garden at Museum Hill. The Santa Fe Botanical Garden currently hosts more than 60,000 visitors and 26,000 youth education engagements each year.
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