With support from the Batchelor Foundation and the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, we are taking the National Tropical Botanical Garden and Dr. Fairchild’s mission and legacy to new heights.
We have built a beautiful research and education center adjacent to The Kampong in Coconut Grove, Florida, where Dr. Fairchild lived and performed much of his research, and where many of his historical plant collections still exist today.
By drawing inspiration from a location with a legacy of scientific exploration and discovery, the ICTB will continue to be Florida’s leader in exploration, conservation and management of tropical plants.
We focus on issues important to South Florida such as:
- Preserving tree canopy
- Fighting invasive plant species
- Researching life-saving medicines from plants
- Finding ways to mitigate the effects of climate change
Our Research and Education Center
Our beautiful new research and education center features work areas, as well as meeting and research space to teach tropical botany courses at post-graduate levels. In our state-of-the art herbarium facilities, we will store and conduct research on thousands of tropical plant specimens collected from around the world. At the forefront of impact from climate change, our center will also be the home to experiments on plant resilience and adaptation.
We have designed a native plant landscape in collaboration with Raymond Jungles, and we feature more than 900 new tree plantings of more than 150 species of native hardwood hammock species. Many of the plants are labeled so that the public can learn about appropriate native plants for their landscapes.
The building features oolite exterior walls, roof gables and dormer windows that reflect some of the original vernacular architecture from the Grosvenor site and surrounding areas of Coconut Grove.
How the Research at The Kampong Helps Our Community
While the research taking place at the ICTB at The Kampong is crucial, our facilities will also be adding value to the neighboring community. The community can access the grounds for garden tours and other environmental/educational opportunities. We are the hub for the Grove ReLeaf citizen science network and a featured garden for our Food Forest program. The ICTB will serve as a training site for participating partners.