Ever wondered exactly which pollinators visit the Miami Beach Botanical Garden and which plants they prefer? Over the past month, YLAI Fellow and ecologist Angélica Pineda has been conducting rigorous ecological monitoring at The MBBG, and in this special program, she’ll reveal her results!
The first part of the program will feature a presentation on the specific pollinators found in Miami Beach, the exact plant species they visit at MBBG, and how you can use this data to design a functional, low-maintenance garden at home. Following the presentation, Angélica will lead a guided walking tour to the Garden’s specific “Biodiversity Hotspots” to see these interactions live.
What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes, a reusable water bottle, note book and your smartphone/camera to capture the pollinators and birds, binoculars if you can (optional).

Angélica Pineda is a biologist and microbiologist with a master’s degree in biodiversity use and conservation. She is also the co-founder of EndémiCO Colombia. Through their “Ecological Matchmaking” method, she and her team use native and endemic plant species to transform traditional urban areas into thriving conservation spots that restore local biodiversity and support pollinators.
Beyond landscape design, EndémiCO actively promotes environmental education in Colombia by hosting hands-on workshops that empower citizens to understand, build, and protect their local ecosystems. As a 2026 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative Fellow, Angélica has spent her time at MBBG systematizing pollinator data to reveal the garden’s biodiversity and ways to conserve it.