Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca

Oaxaca, Mexico, Mexico

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The Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca, located on 2.3 acres beside the Santo Domingo Church in Oaxaca City, was established in the late 1990s through the efforts of artist Francisco Toledo and the civil group PRO-OAX to preserve and celebrate the traditional botanical knowledge of the Zapotec and Mixtec peoples.

The garden showcases a diverse collection of native plants arranged by cultural and ecological themes, highlighting species used for food, medicine, and cultural practices. It sits on land that was once part of a colonial-era monastery and later occupied by the Mexican military, saved from being turned into a parking lot by public activism.

The garden is notable for its sustainable practices like rainwater irrigation and solar energy use and includes a library and laboratory focused on ethnobotanical research. Visitors can experience a living museum that connects the rich biodiversity of Oaxaca with its indigenous heritage through guided tours and educational programs.​