Rene Sylva facts for kids
Rene Sylva (born January 1929 – died December 28, 2008) was a Hawaiian plant expert from Paia, Hawaii. He was known for his important work in protecting Hawaii's unique plants and animals. Interestingly, he was one of the few native Hawaiian fishermen who supported stopping the fishing of green sea turtles.
After his time as a fisherman, Rene Sylva decided to focus on saving Hawaii's natural places. He helped famous plant scientists like Otto Degener and Dr. Harold St. John. Together, they explored far-off parts of the Hawaiian Islands to find and study native plants.
Contents
Rene Sylva's Work at the Gardens
In 1976, Rene Sylva became the person in charge of the Maui Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Kahului, Hawaii. This garden later became known as the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens.
Focusing on Hawaiian Plants
Over time, Rene Sylva changed the garden's main purpose. It used to have many different animals from all over the world. But he decided to focus on plants that are found only on the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, and Kaho‘olawe. This made it the first garden in Hawaii to focus on these special plants, called endemic plants.
He personally collected and grew more than 200 types of native plants. These included plants from Hawaii's coasts and its dry forests. Many people thought he was the top expert on native plants in Maui County.
Protecting Hawaii's Nature
Throughout his life, Rene Sylva strongly worked to protect Hawaii's natural environments. He believed it was very important to keep these places safe.
Helping Volunteer Groups
Rene Sylva was part of many volunteer groups. He helped with projects like restoring the land in Honokowai. He also worked to replant trees on the island of Kaho‘olawe. He continued this important work until he had a stroke in 2006.
He also helped many other people who wanted to protect nature. He guided people like Anna Palomino, who owns a native plant nursery. He also mentored Forest and Kim Starr, who are experts in identifying plants.
A Plant Named in His Honor
Because of all his efforts to protect rare plants and animals in Hawaii, a special plant was named after him. This plant is called Tetramolopium sylvae. It is an endangered species, meaning it is at risk of disappearing forever. It belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae.
Military Service
Rene Sylva also served his country. He was a tank driver for the U.S. military during the Korean War.
See also
In Spanish: Rene Sylva para niños
