MAQUI Touching Earth

When our partners say the sky is the limit, they don’t often mean literally. 

But of the hundreds of thousands of trees sown by our partner in El Salvador, Agua y Arboles para el Pueblo (AAP), one has reached new heights. 

In early April, AAP’s executive director, Armando Hernández, received an unusual call from the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador. Frank Rubio, a well-known U.S. astronaut of Salvadoran descent, was visiting the country and needed help planting some very special seeds. 

Rubio had recently returned from a 371 day trip aboard the International Space Station, but he was not alone. The astronaut traveled to space with 16 Maquilishuat seeds – the national tree of El Salvador, meaning “five-leafed” in Náhuat  –  and hoped they would germinate back in their home country. 

Armando warned that successful germination of the seeds was unlikely given their long stint away from the planet. But as with most feats that involve trees, and dreams, he was willing to try. On April 12th, AAP and Rubio planted all 16 seeds in substrate bags, alongside 4 fresh Maquilishuat seeds for comparison, and found them a safe place in their nursery. 

As of May 2nd, only the 4 fresh seeds had germinated. 

By May 23rd, though, there was one more. After spending over a year in space, a single Maquilishuat was growing roots back on Earth. 

By July, the special seedling had reached a height of 40 cm, nearly ready for a permanent home. First, though, it needed a name. The U.S. embassy, alongside AAP, received countless suggestions over social media, but one stood out – MAQUI. 

On August 9th, AAP delivered MAQUI to a carefully-chosen landing place in the TIN MARIN children’s museum park. In the presence of embassy officials, the press, and an excited crowd of Salvadorians, MAQUI finally touched the ground. 

Frank Rubio sent a video to commemorate the moment: 

“This project not only demonstrates the ability of science to transcend borders but also reminds us of our roots and the importance of preserving our natural heritage, even in the confines of space.” 

Rubio also thanked AAP for their help and expressed his pride in future generations who would care for MAQUI’s species.

We are so proud to be part of AAP’s story, and MAQUI’s with it.