Seeds of Hope at Tapichalaca's Minilab

Since childhood, Fanny has felt a deep connection to nature and science. This passion led her to study forestry engineering, and she now manages Tapichalaca's minilab, where she specializes in micropropagation, a technique that improves plant reproduction. To develop this work, Fanny was trained by micropropagation specialists from the National University of Loja (UNL). Today her work has focused mainly on endangered or unique species that are essential for maintaining ecological balance.

One of her major achievements is the development of a germination protocol for Cinchona sp. or Cascarilla, a species that is very difficult to grow. She has also made important advances in research on the reproduction of the terrestrial orchid Epidendrum elongatum, and has obtained favorable results for germination protocols for Meriana maxima, M. loxensis (endangered), Brachyothum rotundifolium (endangered), and other species difficult to propagate in the field.

The minilab has let her try out different micropropagation techniques to see which are the most effective. The germination process involves putting seeds in Petri dishes, in a specially prepared culture medium, under controlled light and appropriate conditions. Then she evaluates the results. She is currently preparing the publication of propagation protocols. Jocotoco uses the plants she grows in the minilab for enrichment plantings in Tapichalaca, helping rare and endangered species increase in numbers. 

Personally, Fanny is a very persistent and responsible person who easily adapts to change. This is due to the fact that she comes from a large family, where she is the fourth of five siblings. It is  also because of her father's military career, which allowed her to live in different places in Ecuador and to get to know different cultures, realities, and environments.

Her passion and dedication have driven her to take on new professional challenges. In addition to the minilab, she will now be working in the field on magnolia research, where she will be able to put her extensive experience in forestry engineering into practice.

Fanny appreciates the stability she has found in Tapichalaca, where she can be close to her family which lives in Loja, and watch her 7-year-old son grow up, who is already showing a special interest in science, following in Fanny's footsteps. The positive work environment motivates her to continue to grow professionally, and she is proud to be part of a team committed to conservation.

Let's support the amazing work of our conservation heroes! DONATE HERE and be part of the change!