The documented history of flora research in the Americas begins with Christopher Columbus's voyages during the discovery of the New World. On his third voyage, in 1498, he discovered the mouth of the Orinoco River on the Atlantic Ocean while sailing along the coast of Trinidad; however, the first to venture into this majestic river was Diego de Ordaz in 1531 for exploration purposes.
During the 18th century, Jesuit missionaries, through their evangelizing expeditions in the New Kingdom of Granada, documented in greater detail the characteristics of the natural environment, culture, and anthropology of the indigenous inhabitants. In particular, the mission entrusted to Father Joseph Gumilla in 1715 established a milestone in the botanical history of the Orinoco region by providing valuable manuscripts that are essential reading for future researchers of the New World.
This work includes the contributions of geographical information from the mid-18th century through Enlightenment expeditions, the work of Father José Celestino Mutis, who led the Botanical Expedition (from 1761), the voyages of Humboldt and Bonpland (1799-1826), and the contributions to science of Francisco José de Caldas in the early 19th century. It also mentions the establishment of the Chorographic Commission of New Granada (1849), and, together with the analysis of the works of Spruce, Triana, and other prominent scientists, enriches the historical material analyzed in this book.
By the mid-20th century, the works of Santiago Cortés, Father Pérez-Arbeláez, Cuatrecasas, Schultes, and Holdridge, among others, were on display. The exhibition concludes with a brief overview of the work carried out in recent decades by specialists, botanists, explorers, naturalists, universities, institutes, and organizations both in Colombia and abroad. All of this research highlights the current state of knowledge regarding Colombia's flora, particularly the richness of the Orinoco region, and underscores the need to continue exploring this beautiful area, which still holds many more natural treasures to be discovered.
Keywords:
Explorers, New World, America, Jesuit missions, scientific expeditions, national flora, forestry research, Eastern Plains of Colombia.
Prologue:
Luis Enrique Acero Duarte
Dendrologist - Forestry Engineer
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ISBN: 978-958-53266-0-6
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Autor:
Miguel Andrés Cárdenas-Torres
Comité Editorial:
Luis Enrique Acero-Duarte. Dendrólogo y Docente Universidad Distrital de Bogotá
William Ariza-Cortés. Docente Universidad Distrital de Bogotá
Ángela Adriana Cárdenas-Torres. Docente Secretaría de Educación de Bogotá
Doris Duarte-Hernández. Docente Universidad Industrial de Santander, Sede Málaga
Juan Rodrigo Cárdenas-Torres. Docente Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia, Bogotá
Portada:
© Mosaico de los retratos de algunos personajes destacados en estudios botánicos a lo largo de la historia en Colombia y en el mundo. Créditos interiores.
Contraportada:
© Fotografía de un ejemplar de Sloanea guianensis (Aubl.) Benth. (Achiotillo) en pastos arbolados del municipio de Guamal, Meta: el autor, 2015.
Otros créditos:
© Fotografía in memoriam: Fotógrafo Oficial del II Congreso Latinoamericano de Parques Nacionales y otras Áreas Protegidas, Bariloche, Argentina, 2007.
© Fotografías interiores, siluetas de especies, cartografía y figuras de mapas: el autor.
Edita:
© Corporación Cedrela Internacional. Casa Editorial Cedrela. Bogotá D.C. (Colombia), 2021.
ISBN:
978-958-53266-0-6
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