The Madidi Project is a multi-institutional research effort lead by the Missouri Botanical Garden in association with the National Herbarium of Bolivia and other data-contributing collaborators. Running uninterrupted since 2001, the Madidi Project has generated an exceptional infrastructure to carry out research and capacity building in the U. S. and Bolivia.
The main goals of the Madidi Project are:
Exploration
To document and describe the flora of the Madidi region of north-western Bolivia
Biodiversity Research
To study the structure and dynamics of Andean species and ecosystems
Capacity Building
To generate research and training opportunities for people of different educational backgrounds — from professional botanists and university students to people in local communities
About the project
The Madidi Project is a multi-institutional project lead by Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG), with the collaboration of the National Herbarium of Bolivia (LPB) and the Autonomic University of Madrid (UAM). The project commenced in 2001, and has run uninterrupted for over 12 years, building an exceptional infrastructure to carry out research in tropical forests that includes a highly competent staff of permanent researchers in Bolivia. The data collected by the project are unparalleled in the tropical Andes, and provide a detailed knowledge about the distribution of species and biodiversity in the region. For example, the Project has measured, mapped, and identified approximately ~210,000 trees of ~2,600 species within a network of plots along a 4,000-m elevational gradient. Additionally, the Madidi Project has contributed significantly to building capacity. For example, the Project has had active participation by students in Bolivia (69 volunteers, 45 theses), including 20 female thesis students. The Madidi Project offers an exceptional opportunity to further our understanding of how natural systems work, while contributing to the conservation of tropical forests and providing opportunities to Bolivian researchers.
If you want to know more about the Madidi Project, you can browse the rest of this website, follow us on facebook, contact us, or have a look at the 10-year anniversary book (Spanish) and this popular article in Science. Click here to visit the old website for the Madidi Project.
