The city of Encarnación, the capital of Itapúa Department in southern Paraguay, is promoting a special project that embodies the city's identity and history. The project's goal is to replicate the centuries-old Curupay tree located in the square in front of the city hall and plant it throughout the city.
Andrés Morel, a city councilor of Encarnación, emphasized that this giant tree is not merely a landscape feature but a living witness to the 1811 Paraguayan independence revolution and a symbol that connects Encarnación's past and present. The Curupay tree is one of the only natural pieces of evidence that has watched over the entire process of Encarnación's urban history, from the Jesuit settlement era when it began, to the independence era, and to the present day. Its value was so highly regarded that it was designated a natural monument in 1980.
According to Councilor Morel, a story passed down by word of mouth recounts that the news of the independence uprising in Asunción in May 1811 was delivered to General Fulgencio Yegros's army right under this tree. Its historical significance is even deeper because the Curupay tree is rooted in the military square, which was the center of the Jesuit village formerly called Encarnación de Itapúa.
Morel believes that preserving this tree is not only a historical duty but also an opportunity to spread its symbolism. He has requested the National University of Encarnación (UNI) to launch a Curupay sapling propagation program. The saplings will be used as representative gifts from the city of Encarnación. These saplings, to be presented at official events, academic exchanges, welcoming ceremonies for international delegations, and civic festivals, will be more than just gifts; they will be living relics symbolizing identity, freedom, and permanence.
The propagated saplings are planned to be planted in key locations throughout the city, such as schools, institutions, parks, and green spaces. Councilor Morel explained that these saplings will be a tangible way to teach future generations that history is not just in books but also exists in the nature that surrounds us. This project is a meaningful effort to tie the past, present, and future into a single symbol, and a tribute to the giant tree that has protected and cared for the city for centuries, as well as to the many generations who have cherished and preserved it.
The Curupay, or Anadenanthera colubrina, is an indigenous species in South America highly valued for its wood and medicinal properties. Its longevity and historical roots are considered a precious natural heritage of Encarnación. This project is seen as a special effort to unite the city's history and nature through the propagation of the Curupay tree.
[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]
