Preserving the Legacy: CATIE Student Luana Has a Mission to Save Endangered Tree Species

Meet Luana, a passionate and dedicated CATIE graduate student who is on a mission to save endangered tree species in the American Tropics. As a scholarship recipient, Luana is dedicated to researching and preserving some of the most vulnerable plant species on the planet. Through her work, she is helping ensure their survival for generations to come. From the towering canopy to the forest floor, Luana's story is one of inspiration that moves her to take action and help protect our precious natural resources.

The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica is home to some of the world's most diverse and endangered ecosystems. For many years, deforestation, climate change, and human activities have threatened the survival of many plant species in this region. As a master’s student at CATIE, Luana, who is originally from Brazil, is working in partnership with CATIE and Osa Conservation to preserve and restore the rich biodiversity of this region. Luana’s work involves collecting seeds from endangered species, studying them, and propagating them in a nursery to better understand their behavior. Thanks to Luana and the conservation team at Osa, the Peninsula is once again becoming a thriving habitat for many endangered species.

In October of 2023, Luana defended her thesis and walked across the stage as a graduate of CATIE. Her research will inform her continued aspirations to bring her expertise back to Brasil where she plans to transfer her skills to benefit the conservation efforts in her home country. If you would like to support the next generation of conservationists like Luana, and protect the biodiversity of our planet for generations to come, engage with our new platform, Friends of CATIE, and make a difference for aspiring change makers and the planet today!