Traveling to the “Heart of the Andes”

The Andes are the world’s most complex, unexplored and biodiverse mountain range. Across an enormous variety of ecosystems, from the driest deserts to some of the wettest forests, 10% of the world’s plant species are found in these mountains, and many more are still to be discovered. For centuries, explorers, researchers and artists have felt fascination for these mountains, which still guard countless mysteries and are a continuous source of inspiration. The Heart of the Andes, by Frederic E. Church (1826–1900), is an exquisite representation of the biological richness of these breathtaking landscapes, inviting curious eyes to explore every inch of this fabulous painting. During this virtual webinar, Dr. Mauricio Diazgranados guided viewers through a journey traversing Church’s painting, sharing his photographs, adventures, and knowledge with over 30 years’ experience hiking and exploring the flora of these mountains.

Dr. Mauricio Diazgranados leads the strategic positioning and planning for Science at New York Botanical Garden. He directs and oversees the activities of the various components of the International Plant Science Center (IPSC), including the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium; the Institute of Economic Botany; the Institute of Systematic Botany and the Graduate Studies program, among others. In his previous position (2016–2023), Dr. Diazgranados was a Research Leader at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and led the Nature-based Solutions Initiative, aiming to provide solutions to address environmental and societal challenges for the benefit of both society and nature. Before that, he served as Director for Science at the Bogotá Botanical Garden (Colombia). Dr. Diazgranados has more than twenty years of teaching experience, has published numerous papers, books, and extinction risk assessments for plants. His research develops plant and fungal diversity approaches to support communities in locations and economies where nutritional, income and biodiversity issues are of paramount importance. His projects focus on studying utilized, neglected and under-utilized plants, their main threats and conservation status, and their sustainable use, primarily in the Tropics.