[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https://moevarua.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/e874f791-997a-427a-b988-80041dbc0ef0.jpg” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_image][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”https://moevarua.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/20377987-3696-4272-b5df-b75c7b29f8a4.jpg” custom_padding=”||807px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_font_size=”55px” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Toromiro Revives on Rapa Nui
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Etnobotany Recovery
The toromiro, a sacred tree planted around ceremonial centers, was declared extinct over 50 years ago. The last one was seen in the crater at Rano Kau during Thor Heyerdahl’s expedition in 1956. There have been many attempts to recover this endemic species, but all of them failed. Today the situation has changed favorably. More than 100 toromiro plants, all about one meter (40 inches) high, are growing on Rapa Nui together with other native species.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][bsa_pro_ad_space id=3][/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”https://moevarua.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/01137687-5d12-4fef-bcd1-bdf88968c12b.jpg” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]Unlike other islands of Polynesia, in spite of its subtropical climate, Easter Island has a very poor botanical diversity. 88% of the Island is a dry savanna covered with grasses; only 7% has other vegetative cover and barely 5% is forested, mostly with eucalyptus, miro tahiti (Melia azederach ) and avocados, all introduced species. The vegetation existent (a total of 212 species) in Hanga Roa, Rano Kau and Vaitea is not endemic but belongs to flora introduced by humans (166 species) and cultivated native plants (46 species).
The last botanical census of 2006 certifies the existence of seven endemic plants of Rapa Nui. These are the toromiro (Sophora toromiro), the poporo (Solanum forsteri), three types of ferns which the locals call “Nehe Nehe” (Asplenium coliores, Doodia paschalis and Displazia torzolidarium) which are localized in areas protected from the wind, especially in the craters of the Rano Kau and Rano Aroi volcanoes, and, finally, two herbaceous plants (Mauko Toa), grasses which are found on the motu in front of Rano Kau. Two of those endemic species have been recovered : the toromiro and the poporo. The poporo was used medicinally in the old days to ease stomach pains and was almost extinct. In 2005 the last plant was found in the Anakena area and was able to serve as recovery stock, with more than 200 plants today in Mataveri, Tahai, Anakena and Rano Raraku.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https://moevarua.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/foto-5.jpg” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_image][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https://moevarua.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/foto-4.jpg” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_image][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https://moevarua.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bb376a4d-3875-4f9b-a8e0-738bc596bec4.jpg” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_image][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”https://moevarua.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/01137687-5d12-4fef-bcd1-bdf88968c12b.jpg” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]The toromiro was a sacred tree planted around ceremonial centers. The hard, red wood which doesn’t rot served to sculpt representations of spirits (Moai Kavakava), objects of prestige and rank (Rapa, Reimiro and Tahonga) and objects necessary for numerous rituals,including the sacred Rongo Rongo tablets. More than 56% of the objects which were collected through the 19th Century for European museums were made of this wood. The toromiro was declared extinct on the Island more than 50 years ago. The last tree was reported in the crater of Rano Kau during the Heyerdahl expedition of 1958. Many attempts were made to recover the species, but all failed since the stock brought from overseas wasn’t able to adapt to the local soil and died. Jorge Edmunds, an agricultural technician who was in charge of the CONAF (National Forestry Corporation) nursery tells : “After many years of study and plantation trials, we were able to recover this species. In the CONAF nursery, we were able to create an ecosystem similar to its natural habitat. The first stage was preparing half shade. It should be planted on low ground where the water flows but doesn’t accumulate; it must be located near the sea with other trees around it to exchange nutrients and to help it grow and develop. It’s not good to plant it by itself, as it needs other species to survive.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][bsa_pro_ad_space id=2][/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]In the National Forestry Corporation’s project to save the toromiro, the Mata Kite Rangi Foundation is also working. Directed by Sonia Haoa, she admits that her interest in the toromiro came when she realized that it appeared in all the plant analyses that were done in her excavations. Today she tends two toromiros in her garden. They are from the first group planted on the Island and, for the first time, have given 300 seeds. She calls them “mother plants” because from these seeds they have been able to study germination techniques. Today there are 40 toromiros in the CONAF nursery, as well as 30 adult plants in the crater of Rano Kau and in some local gardens. The goal of all this effort is to create the future Rapa Nui Botanical Garden and then be able to offer them to the local community, getting a commitment from each Islander to care for and maintain their native plants.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][bsa_pro_ad_space id=1][/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”3px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]
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