The Cayo Levantado Arboretum, managed by the Fundación Ecológica Bahía Príncipe (Eco-Bahía) in strategic partnership with the Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso National Botanical Garden (JBN), is a specialized island conservation reserve located on Cayo Levantado in Samaná Bay, Dominican Republic. Set within a subtropical rainforest ecosystem anchored on the limestone karst formations of the Los Haitises geological zone, the arboretum serves as an active ex situ plant repository, outdoor laboratory, and model for integrating biodiversity protection into island landscapes. 

The arboretum’s primary scientific focus is the preservation and propagation of threatened native and endemic species of Hispaniola and the Samaná Peninsula. Notable documented species include critically endangered taxa such as Solanum dendroicum, Tabebuia maxonii, and Arcoa gonavensis, alongside endangered trees including Ekmanianthe longiflora and Tabebuia polyantha. Dense, wind-resilient native canopy trees—predominantly Calophyllum calaba, Bursera simaruba (Almácigo), and Ceiba pentandra—anchor the coastal cliff trails. To strengthen regional conservation, the arboretum actively expands its living collection through vegetative clonal propagation of rare flora sourced from nearby Los Haitises National Park.

Beyond ex situ species preservation, the Cayo Levantado Arboretum operates as an interactive environmental education and restoration center. Visitors explore themed “Discovery Cayo Levantado” eco-routes equipped with QR-coded botanical signage integrated with the iNaturalist citizen science platform. Conservation management protocols combine targeted eradication of invasive exotics (such as Leucaena leucocephala and Morinda citrifolia) with community planting programs, corporate volunteer initiatives, and ongoing floristic monitoring to secure a resilient ecological future for Samaná’s coastal biodiversity.