A remarkable discovery has ignited hope in the world of conservation as a species of small holly tree, long believed to have vanished from our planet, has been found clinging to life in the midst of an urban area in northeastern Brazil.
The tree, scientifically named “Ilex sapiiformis” but better known as the Pernambuco holly, was last documented in Western science by Scottish biologist George Gardner in 1838. For nearly two centuries, this species remained elusive, with Gardner’s collection standing as the sole confirmed sighting—until March 22, when an expedition sponsored by the conservation group Re:wild, co-founded by Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, stumbled upon four of these trees.
The discovery unfolded in the city of Igarassu, located in Pernambuco state, Brazil, just outside the state capital of Recife. The expedition, which scoured the region for six days, found the trees along the bank of a small river. They followed a trail of small white flowers characteristic of the Pernambuco holly to reach the hidden trees.
Re:wild’s lost species program officer, Christina Biggs, expressed the significance of this rediscovery, stating, “It’s incredible that the Pernambuco holly was rediscovered in a metropolitan area that is home to nearly six million people. We don’t often think of plants as being lost to science, because they don’t move like animals, but they are every bit as integral to the ecosystems they are native to.”
The expedition’s members were stunned by the find, describing it as a moment when “the world had stopped turning its gears.” Juliana Alencar, one of the team members, emphasized the rarity of such an event, highlighting the remarkable nature of the discovery.
Gustavo Martinelli, the ecologist who led the expedition, revealed that their next step is to establish a breeding program to safeguard the future of this thought-to-be-extinct tree. This development offers a glimmer of hope for the conservation of species believed to be lost, reminding us of the wonders and resilience of nature.