About the Garden >> Importance of the Botanic Garden

Mérida state allows a great diversity of habitats because of the climatic characteristics that presents. In its 11300 square kilometers (1,2% of Venezuelan territory) Mérida presents 18 of the 22 life zones which the country has been divided, making the state a specially important place in the planet. For that reason, one of the objectives of the Mérida Botanic Garden is to represent the riches of plants that grow up in the tropical zones. The zones in Venezuela as the Guyanas, The Caribbean, the Andes, The Amazonas and Orinoco river, show a variety of climates and landscapes very diverse and, by consequence, a diverse flora and fauna.

In the Mérida Botanic Garden is kept a collection that shelters around 12000 exemplars of live plants. It includes species from other countries (Mexico, Colombia, China, Australia, and some of Africa) and native species from Venezuela, as the bromeliad collection being the most complete of the country. It keeps endemic species from the Andes (Retrophyllum rospigliossi “pino laso”) and from Mérida (Pilosocereus tillianus “Catirito or guanajón amarillo”) and even species that are extinguished in their native country (Aristolochia tricandan). Moreover a big quantity of invertebrates and more than 100 species of vertebrates (fishes, amphibians, reptiles, mammalians and birds) live in the zone. The group that is better represented is the bird group. 93 species are known in the present; it is significant to say that we offer refuge and food to resident and migratory species from south and north of America as Dendroica fusca, an endangered bird that migrates from Canada and the United States. (Soto et. al. en prep.).

Mérida Botanic Garden makes available this germplasm bank and being united to Universidad de los Andes, combines, 14 years ago, the scientific and humanistic praxis. Moreover the Botanic Garden is an outdoor stage that allows the recreation and enjoyment of different cultural manifestations, for example, music, poetry, architecture and sculpture.