Lagos de Exaltación (100314)
Bolivia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Lagos de Exaltación

Central coordinates: Latitude: -13.1684, Longitude: -66.6251

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 183

Area of KBA (km²): 4788.92721

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: No

Site details

Site description: The Great Tectonic Lakes of Exaltación are located in the Yacuma del Beni province. They have been declared a municipal protected area, which overlaps the Cayubaba Indigenous Territory, key actors for its preservation. In addition, they are part of the Río Yata Ramsar site, a 28,132.29 km2 wetland complex of international importance. The region is home to flooded and wooded savannahs, forest islands, terra firma forests and gallery forests that surround lakes, rivers and streams. These ecosystems have allowed the development of an enormous wealth of flora and fauna that includes several threatened species, such as the buffalo (Inia boliviensis) or the swamp deer (Blastocerus dichotomus). Added to this are archaeological sites and other manifestations of the cultural legacy of various indigenous peoples for approximately 1,500 years that have given rise to an exceptional biocultural landscape representative of the Llanos de Moxos. Los Grandes Lagos Tectónicos de Exaltación se encuentran en la provincia Yacuma del Beni. Han sido declarados área protegida municipal, la cual se superpone al Territorio Indígena Cayubaba, actores clave para su preservación. Además, forman parte del sitio Ramsar Río Yata, un complejo de humedales de 28.132,29 km2 de importancia internacional. La región alberga sabanas inundables y arboladas, islas de bosque, bosques de tierra firme y bosques de galería que circundan lagos, ríos y arroyos. Estos ecosistemas han permitido el desarrollo de una enorme riqueza de flora y fauna que incluye varias especies amenazadas, como el bufeo (Inia boliviensis) o el ciervo de los pantanos (Blastocerus dichotomus). A ello se suman sitios arqueológicos y otras manifestaciones del legado cultural de diversos pueblos indígenas desde hace aproximadamente 1.500 años que ha dado lugar a un paisaje biocultural excepcional representativo de los Llanos de Moxos.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds KBA criteria (Blastocerus dichotomus A1b, A1d; Inia geoffrensis A1a, A1c; Alectrurus tricolor A1d)

Manageability of the site: It is managed by the Municipal Government of Exaltación

Supersedes another site: Lagunas Rogaguado y Ginebra ID 14397

Other site values: Cayubaba and Movima indigenous communities

Delineation rationale: Site delineation follows the exact boundaries of the Municipal Protected area Lagos de Exaltación (see VMABCCGDF 2022. Atlas de las Áreas Protegidas Municipales de Bolivia.)

Habitats

Land use: Some uses of the land are for tourist activity, livestock, and use of natural resources by the indigenous population of the Cuyababa indigenous community land

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Savanna	40	Savanna - Moist
Wetlands(Inland)	40	Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes (over 8 ha)
Forest	20	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Increase in fire frequency/intensity	Ongoing

Additional information