Chile Program Office
University of North Texas
Environmental Education, Science & Technology Bldg. 325C
PO Box 310920
Denton, TX 76203
Phone: 940-369-8211
Alt Phone: 940-565-2981
Fax: 940-565-4448
Email: chile@unt.edu
Physical Location:
EESAT Building
1704 West Mulberry St.
Research, Education and Conservation
Miniature Forests
Since “discovering” the startling biodiversity of mosses, lichens and liverworts in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, Omora scientists have worked to insert this diversity into the consciousness and decision-making process of local citizens and authorities. For this reason, during an education program in the local school, the metaphor “miniature forests” was coined to help the general public understand that these small plants are as important and have the same processes and the forests they see around them every day; they just require us to bend down with a hand lens to observe them. This information has also been transferred to sustainable economic activities with the promotion of “Tourism with a Hand Lens,” an innovative specialty tourism activity being implemented at the Omora Park.
Figure 1: Fructicose lichen. Photographer Alexandria Poole, Chile-UNT Archive
Figure 2: Commonly known as “British Soldiers”, Photographer Alexandria Poole, Chile-UNT Archive
Figure 3: “Lettuce” lichen. Photographer Alexandria Poole, Chile-UNT Archive