Acer skutchii (Acer skutchii)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 11053094

I examined the geographic distribution, morphological variability, levels of genetic diversity, inbreeding, gene flow, and evolutionary relationships of all Acer skutchii populations in America. As a result of the project, I was able to discover a new maple species for western Mexico: Acer binzayedii. Initially, it was considered that it was the same species of sugar maple, distributed along Mexico and Guatemala (Acer skutchii). Thus, Acer bizayedii, the new maple species is present in only two localities in Jalisco state, and Acer skutchii is distributed in one locality in northeast Mexico, one locality in southern Mexico, and in two small areas in Guatemala.

This finding strengthened the need to establish a protected area in western Mexico to preserve the species. The new protected area has the State Park category; it was created on January 2016 to ensure the preservation of Acer binzayedii and its natural habitat.

In addition, the genetic characterization performed at all populations indicated which populations and trees contain the highest genetic diversity. Those were characterized as best seed sources and will be used to obtain seedlings for planting and restore the forest natural habitat. 

Project documents

• http://globaltrees.org/threatened-trees/trees/alamo-plateado/ The Global Trees Campaign reporting the findings of this project funded by the MBZ Species Conservation Fund
• Report. New tree species named after His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces
• Scientific Report. Genetic characterization of the populations.
• Legal decree of the new protected natural area in Jalisco, Mexico. The natural protected area was established to preserve the maple tree populations (now the new species Acer binzayedii). The protecte




Project 11053094 location - Mexico, North America