According to the Ministry of People’s Power for the Environment, Venezuela is home to 150,000 species, making the country qualify as “mega-diverse.”

The tally of native species was reported by Jesus Manzanilla, the ministry’s director of National Biodiversity, to commemorate the “Year of the International Biological Diversity” designated by the United Nations with the purpose of reducing the loss of species worldwide.

“Venezuela is a mega-diverse country, which has different endemic species. About 150,000 have been documented, which makes us one of the most privileged nations,” said Manzanilla. “Our country has different types of ecosystems – dunes, mountains, forests, cloud forests and marine environments – where these species live,” he added.

Bolivarian News Agency, Press and Communications Office of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the U.S. / April 13, 2010