🌿 NCC seeks public opinion on Cayman Sage conservation plan

The National Conservation Council (NCC) has launched a public consultation on a proposed species conservation plan for the Cayman Sage (Salvia caymanensis), a flowering herb native to Grand Cayman. Thought to have become extinct, the plant was rediscovered in 2007 and is now considered critically endangered. The NCC's plan aims to restore a self-sustaining population in the wild, supported by cultivation to protect the plant's genetic diversity. The wild population has reportedly died out, but seeds collected from wild plants have been grown in large numbers and planted in the QEII Botanic Park and other locations. 🌿

As part of the plan, the NCC intends to propagate large numbers of the Cayman Sage in collaboration with the Botanic Park, allowing the park to sell the plants to the public on Grand Cayman only. The public will be encouraged to plant the herb in gardens and diverse habitats throughout the island. The plant is fully protected under the National Conservation Act, and cannot be taken from the wild without a permit. However, individuals interested in cultivating it can acquire plants from the Botanic Park. The consultation period runs until June 30, with the public invited to submit comments and complete an online survey. 🌱