The reserve was established in 1963 in honour of the entomologist and botanist Adolfo Ducke (1876–1959), who was one of the most respected experts on Amazonian flora.

The reserve sits at the intersection of two major drainage areas, the Amazon River and the Rio Negro.

The Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve is one of the most intensively studied patches of rainforest in the world.

The botanical garden offers direct contact with nature and serves as a tourist attraction.

[2] The Adolfo Ducke Botanical Garden is administered through a partnership between the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), the City of Manaus, and the Museum of the Amazon (MUSA).