Category: Fundació Carl Faust

Marimurtra receives the visit of Dr. Bart Kempenaers and Dr. Joan Carles Senar, distinguished figures in the scientific world

Posted on by JBMarimurtra

The Marimurtra Botanical Garden has received the visit of two leading figures in the field of natural sciences, in a day that reinforces the role of the Garden as a space for meeting, knowledge and international outreach.

The visit was led by the president of the Carl Faust Foundation, Cristòfol Jordà, who welcomed the guests and accompanied them on a visit to the house of Carl Faust, an emblematic building of the Garden designed by the Catalan Noucentista architect Josep Goday. This space, closely linked to the figure of Carl Faust and the origins of Marimurtra, made it possible to contextualise the history, values and scientific trajectory of the Garden. Afterwards, they toured the Botanical Garden to discover its collections, biodiversity and some of its sustainable management tools.

The visitors to Marimurtra were Dr. Joan Carles Senar, Head of Research at the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona, and Professor Dr. Bart Kempenaers, Director of the Department of Ornithology at the Max Planck Institute (Germany), two institutions of international reference in the field of natural sciences research.

Following the institutional visit, both signed the honour book of the Carl Faust Foundation, leaving a written record of their visit to Marimurtra. In his dedication, Joan Carles Senar highlighted Marimurtra as a place where science and history come together, emphasising the tenacity and expertise that, from Carl Faust to the present day, have made possible the creation and continuity of a unique scientific space.

For his part, Professor Dr. Bart Kempenaers expressed his gratitude for the welcome and remarked on the impression made on him by the Garden’s bibliographic collection, stating that he could spend hours there from the perspective of an ornithologist, thus underlining the cross-cutting value of Marimurtra’s scientific heritage.

The day provided an opportunity to share reflections on biodiversity, research and scientific outreach in a privileged setting overlooking the Mediterranean.

This visit reinforces the commitment of the Carl Faust Foundation to establish and consolidate international links with institutions and figures from the world of natural sciences, and strengthens Marimurtra as a reference space where research, heritage, outreach and science converge.

  • Dr. Joan Carles Senar

The dragon tree that blooms for the first time

Posted on by JBMarimurtra

Dracaena draco is one of the most unique and fascinating plants in the Marimurtra Botanical Garden. This summer, one of our specimens has flowered for the first time after fifteen years—an event that invites us to better discover this extraordinary species. Although the dragon tree (Dracaena draco) is strongly associated with the Canary Islands, its origin is African.

Today, it grows wild in Tenerife, Cape Verde, Madeira, the Moroccan Anti-Atlas… and even on parts of the island of Socotra (Yemen), there are very closely related and similar species (Dracaena cinnabari). These distant populations and species are remnants of an ancient lineage that millions of years ago extended across regions now turned into deserts.

With the desertification of the Sahara and other climate changes, these plants became isolated on islands and mountains, like living fossils of a greener world. This species, part of the asparagus family, has a thick trunk that allows it to store water and grow very slowly. Over time, it can reach monumental shapes and live for centuries.

One of its peculiarities is that it only begins to bloom once it has reached maturity, usually at fifteen years old. From then on, it flowers and branches every ten years. This makes it possible to estimate its age by observing its branching pattern.

Another striking feature is its red sap, known as “dragon’s blood”. This resin, which the plant exudes when cut, has traditionally been used as a medicinal remedy, dye, or varnish, and it still retains that evocative name today.

One of the most legendary specimens of this species was the Great Dragon Tree of Casa Franchi, in La Orotava (Tenerife), long considered the largest in the Canary Islands. According to historical sources, it could reach 25 meters in height, a canopy 23 meters in diameter, and a trunk 15 meters in circumference.

This majestic specimen captivated illustrators, travelers, and scientists of the 18th and 19th centuries. It also withstood several violent storms: in 1819 it lost much of its crown in a hurricane, and another storm in 1867 finally felled it. Although it disappeared in the late 19th century, it is still remembered as a symbol of the natural and cultural heritage of the town.

Some illustrations of the time show it with a door and a staircase, and it’s said that someone even lived inside its trunk. It is documented in books such as Histoire Naturelle des Îles Canaries (1835), where a representation appears based on observations from 1790.

 

This specimen is part of the historical collection of the Library from Carl Faust’s former office, founder of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden.

Today at Marimurtra, this flowering dragon tree connects us with a natural history as ancient as it is fascinating. If you want to see it in person, this is a rare moment! You’ll find it in the Canary Islands area, right at the entrance to the first garden.

Farewell to the ESC programme volunteers: Vianne and Melina

Posted on by JBMarimurtra

This June we say goodbye to two young women who have been practically family at the Garden Botanical Marimurtra: the German volunteers Vianne and Melina. They have been with us for nine months, since October, within the “Volunteers for a Green Future” project, funded by the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme and coordinated by the German organisation Naturkultur, e.V.

During these months, they have actively participated in tasks of:

  • Maintenance of the vegetable garden and green spaces.

  • Sustainable conservation and management of biological extracts.

  • Environmental education and scientific outreach.

  • Observation and care of biodiversity, including feeders and birdwatching.

  • Accompaniment to Catalan language courses from the Consorci de Normalització Lingüística (CNL) to facilitate their integration.

Their curiosity, enthusiasm and desire to learn have been an injection of energy for the team and visitors.

Living experience and cultural exchange

According to first impressions, they have highlighted:

  • The warmth of the team of gardeners and teamwork.

  • Learning Catalan as a tool for connection with the environment.

  • The complementary activities: yoga classes, canoe trips, beach excursions and meetings with other volunteers at a regional and national level.

Continuity and commitment

This project marks the sixth participation of Marimurtra in the ESC programme (the fifth with German volunteers), consolidating a programme born in 2019 and receiving more than 90 annual applications.

Thank you, Vianne and Melina!

They have left an unforgettable mark at the Garden, contributing to improving the conservation and outreach of the space, bringing a fresh perspective and promoting cultural exchanges with the team and visitors. At the same time, they had the opportunity to live by the Mediterranean Sea and to discover Blanes and the local culture, fully integrating into our environment.

What comes next?

In October we will welcome new volunteers and continue this programme that enriches both the Garden and those who do the volunteering. Would you like to know how the ESC project evolves?

We leave you a compilation video with some moments experienced by the volunteers during their stay at Marimurtra.

Marimurtra participates in the XVII Congress of the AIMJB

Posted on by JBMarimurtra

From 14 to 18 May 2024, the XVII Congress of the Ibero-Macaronese Association of Botanical Gardens (AIMJB) took place at the Torretes Biological Station – Botanical Garden of the University of Alicante (UA), and the CIBIO Research Institute, in Alicante and Ibi. The congress focused on “Living collections: reservoir of genes and traditional knowledge related to Biodiversity”.
During these five days, several sessions related to the management of living collections, historical and popular gardens, botanical garden networks, ethnobotany, biodiversity and sustainability, education and dissemination, as well as knowledge transfer were held.

Pere Fraga, chief scientist of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden, offered two significant conferences: “The use of extracts as an alternative to chemical phytosanitary products in a botanical garden” and “Living plant collections and their importance in botanical garden management: practical case at the Marimurtra Botanical Garden”, providing perspectives on strategies to mitigate the environmental impact in the management of botanical gardens and highlighting the relevance of living collections in this management.

Anna Sans, head of scientific outreach at Marimurtra, presented the conference “Bringing botany closer and promoting scientific vocations to the Marimurtra Botanical Garden”, where she shared strategies to bring botany closer to the general public and foster interest in science.
In addition, all attendees enjoyed an enriching guided tour of the Torretes Botanical Garden, in Ibi, led by Segundo Ríos, a prominent expert in botany, and visited the Biodiversity Museum, thus complementing the content of the congress with practical experiences.
The event was an excellent opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and experiences in the management and conservation of botanical gardens, as well as for the generation of collaborative proposals and projects, strengthening networks between the various botanical gardens in the Ibero-Macaronesian region.

The Ibero-Macaronesian Association of Botanical Gardens (AIMJB) was established in 1985 by different Spanish and Portuguese institutions related to the aims and objectives of a botanical garden. Among them, the promotion of Botanical Gardens as centres for the conservation of biodiversity, environmental education, research, culture and heritage; as well as their dissemination in society stand out. This philosophy is completely linked to the statutes of the Carl Faust Foundation, manager of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden and member of the AIMJB, whose main objective is the protection and promotion of studies of Mediterranean biology, especially in botany, […] seeking international cooperation and relations for the benefit, all in all, of scientific research and dissemination. It is for this reason that Marimurtra’s participation in these congresses adds a lot of value to its work, as well as the enrichment of knowledge so that we can all move forward in the same direction.

 

Restoration of the furniture heritage of Carl Faust’s house

Posted on by JBMarimurtra

Recently, some restoration work has been carried out on some of the elements of the furniture heritage of Carl Faust’s house.

Counting on the professional restorer Raul Mestre, different restoration techniques have been carried out for different pieces of furniture in the house. In 1921, Carl Faust, founder of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden, had the house built, which is the heart of the Botanical Garden and the Foundation. A work by the nineteenth-century architect Josep Goday that is currently the welcome point for visitors to the Costa Brava Botanical Garden.

The craftsman restorer Raul has restored some pieces that had corks, insects that bore galleries in the wood, and that damage the furniture. To do this, he took the furniture into a humidity-controlled cold chamber for 10 days to ensure that the insect dies. Afterwards, the damage is restored, stabilizing the wood both aesthetically and structurally to control future appearances and guarantee its maintenance.

Two pieces of furniture of great heritage value also stand out. One is a 17th-century headboard later converted into a neoclassical ottoman, and the other a cupboard dating from 1840, specially designed for botanical tasks such as drying plants or other activities typical of a herbarium. In both cases, work has been done to consolidate the stucco and touch up the paint finishes.

This year, in addition, the centenary of Marimurtra is celebrated. 1924 was the year in which Faust decided to dedicate his efforts, heritage and time to the realization of his dream, the Botanical Garden.

2023 report on the monitoring of birds in the Marimurtra Botanical Garden

Posted on by JBMarimurtra

The report made by the environmental consultant Pere Alzina i Bilbeny in 2023 on the ornithological monitoring in the Marimurtra Botanical Garden, in Blanes, presents detailed data on the species of birds that inhabit or visit this natural space. With an area of 16 hectares and a location between the Mediterranean Sea, forests and urban areas, the botanical garden is home to a rich variety of birds.

During the four visits carried out throughout the year 2023, a total of 35 species of birds were identified, with a special emphasis on nesting species. Several categories of nesting probability have been recorded, ranging from possible to certain, including species such as the Great-breasted Tern, the Black-breasted Tern and the Heron.

The document highlights the presence of 30 species that show signs of reproduction, among which the blue tern, the tudon and the crayfish stand out. The importance of protecting the environment and the species present is highlighted, with the aim of maintaining biological diversity.

In addition, Pere underlines Marimurtra’s involvement in environmentally sustainable practices, such as the cessation of the use of biocides and chemical fertilizers, and actions to promote ornithological fauna and their habitats.

This report contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics and richness of the ancestral fauna of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden, highlighting its importance as a space for conservation and scientific research in the context of international botanical gardens.

Download here the complete report on bird monitoring in the Marimurtra Botanical Garden 2023 by Pere Alzina.

Edicions de Marimurtra has published 2 new books

Posted on by JBMarimurtra

Francis Hallé in Marimurtra and the second volume of Marimurtra Collections on conifers and other gymnosperms are the titles published this 2024

Edicions de Marimurtra, the publishing label linked to the Carl Faust Foundation, owner and manager of the Marimurtra Botanic Garden, publishes the second volume of the botanical collection with a work dedicated to conifers and other gymnosperms. Conifers are trees with narrow or scale-shaped leaves, with rudimentary flowers, and with the particularity that their ovules and pollen are exposed, without any protection. Unlike angiosperms in which the seed is often covered inside the fruit.

Gymnosperms are plants that do not bear fruit, and reproduce through fertilization with the pollen of male specimens in the ovules of female specimens. Its seeds develop on the surface of scales or leaves, and are often modified to form cones.

This volume aims to show particularities of conifers and other gymnosperms, their importance in the environment and the species that we can see in the Marimurtra Botanical Garden. The intention is to highlight this group of woody plants, which, despite not being important in Mediterranean climates, are important because they make up the landscape and ethnobotany.

The book provides abundant photographic material with the aim of facilitating the location and identification of the conifers that can be seen during the visit to Marimurtra. But it has also had the graphic support of UrbanSketchers from Lloret de Mar, who, following a couple of visits to Marimurtra, created a series of illustrations that have given the book a very remarkable graphic and artistic added value.

The author of the work is Pere Fraga i Arguimbau, botanist and gardening specialist. Currently botanic curator and head of research at the Marimurtra Botanical Garden. For 22 years he has been working in the management of plant species in danger of extinction and in the control of their threats such as invasive exotic species EEI.

The other book is Francis Hallé in Marimurtra, a book that aims to allow the visitor to complement and remember his experience in the Garden with the help of some of the most outstanding specimens by the botanist illustrator Francis Hallé. For this reason, the magnificent illustrations of this work are also accompanied by the description of the types of arboreal architecture that is related to it, a location within the Garden and a comment that helps the visitor and explorer of Marimurtra to discover these forms and structures in the Botanical Garden in a fun and interesting way.

The authors of the book are Francis Hallé, a French botanist, ecologist and explorer born in 1938. He is known for his work in plant ecology and tropical biology, and has devoted many years to the study of primary forests and biodiversity; and Carles Burguera, botanist and curator of the herbarium and germplasm bank of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden. Responsible for carrying out a line of research on the recovery, restoration and study of botanical collections and promotes scientific dissemination.

Both publications have had the support of the Diputació de Girona.

Science Week 2023 at the Marimurtra Botanical Garden

Posted on by JBMarimurtra

In November 2023, Science Week promoted by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI) was celebrated. Once again, the Marimurtra Botanical Garden joined in the celebration of science week with different events.

Science Week is aimed at all audiences and has as its fundamental objectives to bring science and technology closer to citizens and to encourage scientific vocations among the youngest.

In this edition, the Generalitat de Catalunya promoted the commemoration of Joan Oró Year, on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of the biochemist Joan Oró i Florensa. As part of this initiative, the figure and scientific career of this famous researcher from Lleida, an international reference in the study of the origin of life, will become the guiding thread of Science Week.

The Jardí Botànic Marimurtra made a proposal where experts and fans made their knowledge and experience of science and botany available to the public in three different days.

Download the poster

Thursday, November 16th

The first day of the week consisted of a technical morning by Mariano Sánchez, curator and head of the gardening and arboriculture unit of the Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid – CSIC and co-director of the Urban Arboriculture Master at the Complutense University of Madrid . The day was divided into a theoretical part, where Mariano explained his learnings throughout his professional experience, as well as different botanical concepts in relation to the world of arboriculture.

Saturday November 18th

Marimurtra + scientific is a day to highlight some of the research, research and dissemination work carried out by different students, volunteers and collaborators at the Marimurtra Botanical Garden. Carles Burguera, responsible for the herbarium and germplasm bank of Marimurtra, participated in the first part of micro-presentations; Mia and Louisa, the two German volunteers of the European Solidarity Corps program; Anna Sans, head of the scientific dissemination department of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden and Josep Borrell, general director of the Carl Faust Foundation.
The second part consisted of a conference on biodiversity by Anna Sans, followed by ‘Birds of Marimurtra’ by expert ornithologist and environmental consultant Pere Alzina, responsible for the botanical bird inventory.

Sunday November 19

This edition of Science Week concluded with the guided tour ‘The Biodiversity of Marimurtra’, a visit that emphasizes the biodiversity that exists in Marimurtra and the actions carried out to promote it through management ecological and sustainable nature of the Garden, as well as the promotion of relationships between the plants and the auxiliary fauna that live there.

4th Mediterranean Plant Conservation Week

Posted on by JBMarimurtra

Marimurtra attended the 4th Mediterranean Plant Conservation Week in the Botanical Garden of Valencia. It is a congress intended to share and exchange knowledge with other organizations, entities and projects that work on the conservation and increase of the biodiversity of Mediterranean climate plants.

The congress program addressed topics such as the conservation of flora in Mediterranean habitats, the preservation of the seed bank and germplasm of species for future use, the reintegration of species in situ and ex situ, the analysis and actions in relation to invasive species for habitat restoration, the international cooperation network for the conservation of Mediterranean flora and tools for education, dissemination and communication of plant conservation.

Entities from different countries have participated in the congress, such as Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Italy, Armenia, Lebanon, Serbia, Cape Verde, Greece, among others.

Pere Fraga, botanical conservator of Marimurtra, presented a micro-conference on the conservation of Menorcan flora and a poster on ‘Threatened coastal plant species of Catalonia: improving knowledge and ex situ conservation’ (see the poster here), while Anna Sans , scientific popularizer of Marimurtra, presented a poster on ‘A botanical garden and a wide variety of audiences, a commitment to the public and the promotion of scientific vocations. The case of the school public’ (see the poster here).

The presence of Marimurtra in these congresses is of great importance, as it opens the doors to international cooperation, one of the fundamental objectives of the Carl Faust Foundation, and brings new approaches to the task of conserving the biodiversity of species. In addition, it allows to publicize the conservation, research and dissemination work carried out by the Marimurtra Botanical Garden.

During the congress, a day was held to discuss the different strategies aimed at disseminating scientific research to citizens and making them participate in the conservation of plant biodiversity, as well as focusing on their own values or creating them new in relation to this current.

The Forestry Research and Experimentation Center (CIEF) and the Botanical Garden of the University of Valencia are mainly responsible for the organization of this 4th edition, in close collaboration with some units of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Fund for the Critical Ecosystem Association (CEPF).

The Carl Faust Foundation launches the museological project of the 50 most remarkable specimens from the Marimurtra Botanical Garden collection

Posted on by JBMarimurtra

On the occasion of the International Day of Botanical Gardens (second Friday of October), the Carl Faust Foundation presents the Costa Brava Botanical Museum project, a tour of the collection of the 50 most outstanding specimens of Marimurtra that you can now enjoy through labels with QR codes distributed along the route through the Botanical Garden, which provide detailed and descriptive information on each of the specimens in the collection.

According to ICOM (the international organization that regulates museums), all botanical gardens are also considered museums. In the case of Marimurtra, in addition, the relevant arrangements will be made before the Generalitat de Catalunya to enter the register managed by the Catalan Government. The Carl Faust Foundation, manager of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden, has opted for a museum operation that is adapted to new technologies and that at the same time offers a simple operation for the user. Each of the 50 remarkable specimens in the collection is identified by a QR with the species name. When the visitor scans the QR, they access a species file where they can consult the description of the plant, what the Marimurtra specimen looks like, some curiosities about the species, some of its main uses and some botanical classifications.

Apart from the QRs, a map has also been placed at the entrance to the Garden explaining how the Museum works and the location of these 50 specimens. On the museum website marimurtra.cat/museu, there is also a welcome video where the project is presented and a short tutorial on how to use the QR codes and how to follow the museum’s route inside the Garden.

This project aims to bring science and botany closer to visitors to Marimurtra, as well as achieve an impact and learning after their visit. Apart from being a Botanical Garden with captivating views, Marimurtra is also a center for research, dissemination and conservation of the biodiversity of species.

The Marimurtra Botanical Garden was created during the 1920s by the German businessman and philanthropist Carl Faust with the intention of being a center for research, study and conservation of botanical specimens of great interest to the scientific community. His legacy lives on today through the Carl Faust Foundation, which ensures that the Botanical Garden is kept in perfect condition for visitors and also takes Faust’s will to turn it into a space dedicated to plant conservation, study of Mediterranean biology and dissemination of scientific and environmental values.

The Marimurtra Botanical Garden is classified as a Cultural Asset of National Interest and in 2009 the Carl Faust Private Carl Foundation was awarded the Sant Jordi Cross from the Generalitat de Catalunya.