Valle de Tucabaca (100330)
Bolivia, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, B1
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Valle de Tucabaca
Central coordinates: Latitude: -18.3037, Longitude: -59.4533
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 147 to 1305
Area of KBA (km2): 2626.87301
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: KBA Valle de Tucabaca is located in the Department of Santa Cruz, Chiquitos province in the municipality of Roboré and coincides with the "Unidad de Conservación del Patrimonio Natural y Refugio de Vida Silvestre Departamental (Natural Heritage Conservation Unit and Departmental Wildlife Refugee) Valle de Tucabaca", which was created to guarantee the conservation and management of unique natural resources and water availability. The vegetation corresponds to the Chiquitano dry forest, Chaco Cerrado, Chiquitano Cerrado subregions and with a strong influence of the floodplain sheets of the Pantanal. This biome complexity is unique in the world, forming a variety of ecosystems and a great diversity of fauna and flora species (GDASC 2011). In the KBA the altitudinal range goes from 147 to 1305 m.a.s.l., there are two physiographic units between the Serranía de Sunsás and the one of Santiago, it is a valley of the Precambrian Chiquitano shield. In other words, the alluvial deposits are relatively recent but the material has been repeatedly eroded and leached, and the soils (alfisols and oxisols) are of low fertility, often with hardened horizons and/or imperfect drainage. The Serranías de Santiago, Chochís and Cántaros are isolated highlands of the Chaco. The soils in this area are not only low fertility but also shallow and generally prone to water erosion (GDASC 2011).
La KBA Tucabaca se encuentra ubicada en el Departamento de Santa Cruz, provincia Chiquitos en el municipio de Roboré, y coincide con la "Unidad de Conservación del Patrimonio Natural UCPN y Refugio de Vida Silvestre Departamental Valle de Tucabaca", que fue creada para asegurar la conservación de la biodiversidad y el aprovisionamiento de agua. La vegetación corresponde a las subecoregiones bosque seco chiquitano, cerrado chaqueño, cerrado chiquitano y con una fuerte influencia de las sábanas inundables del pantanal. Esta complejidad de bioma se constituye único en el mundo, conformando una variedad de ecosistemas y una gran diversidad de especies de fauna y flora (GDASC 2011). En la KBA el rango altitudinal va de 147 a 1305 m.s.n.m, se encuentras dos unidades fisiográficas entre la Serranía de Sunsás y la de Santiago es un valle del escudo chiquitano precámbrico. Es decir que los depósitos aluviales son relativamente recientes pero de material que ha sido erosionado y lixiviado repetidas veces, suelos son (alfisoles y oxisoles) de baja fertilidad frecuentemente con horizontes endurecidos y/o con drenaje imperfecto. Las Serranías de Santiago, Chochís y Cántaros son serranías aisladas del Chaco, los suelos de esta zona además de ser de baja fertilidad son también poco profundos y en general propensos a erosión hídrica (GDASC 2011).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: Aemerega bohneli is an endemic species with a range restricted to the unique habitats of the Chiquitos mountain range, the species is categorized EN, whose main threat is the loss of habitat due to forest fires. At least 63 % of the species' distribution range overlaps with the Tucabaca Reserve. The last records of the species were made in 2014. This species qualifies under the KBA Criteria A1a, B1. Four plant species qualify unbder A1a and B1, of which Calea dalyi also qualifies under A1e Criteria.
Manageability of the site: Currently, the Tucabaca Valley Municipal Wildlife Reserve is administered by the Autonomous Departmental Government of Santa Cruz and has a management plan.
Actualmente la Reserva Municipal de Vida Silvestre Valle de Tucabaca es adminsitrada por el Gobierno Departamental Autonomo de Santa Cruz y cuenta con plan de manjeo.
Delineation rationale: The delimitation corresponds to the polygon of the Valle de Tucabaca Municipal Wildlife Reserve approved by Municipal Law No. 001/2011, later it was raised to departmental rank.
La delimitación corresponde al poligono de la Reserva Municipal de Vida Silvestre Valle de Tucabaca aprobado por Ley Municipal N° 001/2011, posteriormente fue subido a rango departamental
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Aquatic | 0.017 | Water Storage Areas [over 8 ha] |
| Savanna | 4 | Savanna - Dry |
| Forest | 95 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical dry |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Lucindo Gonzales, Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado
Enrique Domic Rivadeneira, Red para la Conservación de Tortugas de BoliviaMaira Martinez KEW
Daniel Villarroel Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza (FAN)
Alfredo Fuentes Claros Missouri Botanical Garden-Bolivia (MBG)
Germaine Alexander Parada Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado (MHNNKM)
Luzmila Arroyo Padilla Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado (MHNNKM)
Diego Peñaranda Asociación Civil Armonía
Adriana Ávila Consultant - Asociación Civil Armonía
Oswaldo Maillard Fundación para la Conservación del Bosque Chiquitano (FCBC)