NaraNjo-Sa'al - World Monuments Fund

Figure 27. A view of
building B-24 and its ideal
landscaping.
Vista de la edificación B-24
con la vegetación ideal.
3. Documentation and Conservation
of the Site’s Exotic Flora
The rare and exotic Plants endemic to Naranjo-Sa’al—particularly the 50 on
the IUCN Red List—are being integrated into the urban components of the
city, including the causeways, plazas, and buildings. The goal is to create onsite
nurseries to grow the specimens necessary to re-landscape the mound areas. The
ultimate objective is that the final presentation of the site is as pristine as possible.
The plinths of temples B18, B24, B19, and C-4 have already been covered with ornamental
vegetation. The plinth of B18 has been landscaped with predominantly red
vegetation while B-24 [Figure 27] displays the selected ground cover vegetation with a
predominance of purple on the north and east façades and tradeschantia sp. (cockroach
plant), and purple tradescantia spathacea (maguey) has been planted on the south and
west façades. White begonias lindleyana now grace the façade of B19. When restoration
work is complete on plinth of C-9 [Figure 28], it will be landscaped with small
xate palms and chichipil trees. Garden islands with mixed foliage are to be placed in
the plazas of the east-west causeway, now known as the Causeway of the Pilgrims.
With regard to the endangered orchids, the collection process has begun and preparations
for their exhibition are underway. Thanks to funding provided by the Gilbert
and Ildiko Butler Foundation—through the Archaeological Research and Rescue
Project for Naranjo (PIAREN)—an interdisciplinary guide to the exotic flora of Naranjo-Sa’al
(Guía Florística del sitio Arqueológico Naranjo-Sa’al, Petén, Guatemala), which
contains contributions from both archaeologists and botanists, was published in 2010.
Future work on the exotic flora includes:
· Setting up a nursery in the plazas of the west acropolis and acropolis C10 for the
cultivation of the 50 plants on the Red List of endangered species
· Planting several climbing plant species associated with corozo palms in Naranjo-
Sa’al’s Access Plaza
· Building landscaped interpretative paths that lead to three residential groups on the
periphery of the monumental center
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