Noel Kempff Mercado (14349)
Bolivia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: B1

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Noel Kempff Mercado

Central coordinates: Latitude: -14.2168, Longitude: -60.9119

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 170 to 900

Area of KBA (km²): 16150.2076

Protected area coverage (%): 99.30

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This KBA is located in the northeastern region of the department of Santa Cruz. Noel Kempff Mercado National Park and San Ignacio de Velasco Municipal Reserve are virtually free of human settlements, except for small towns along the Paraguá River. Access to this area by land is only possible during the dry season (April to September). Some of the woody species in the cerrado savannas are Brysonima coccolobifolia, Caryocar brasiliensis and Erytroxylum subersum. The dry forests are dominated by Copaifera langsdorffii and Terminalia fagifolia; colonies of Dwarf Bamboo, Actinocladum verticillatum, are common. There is also a palm formation dominated by Cusi (Orbignya phalerata). Swamp forests are characterized by saturated soils but without adequate flooding. Some important families are Moraceae (Pseudolmedia, Ficus), Palmae (Euterpe, Mauritia), Annonaceae (Gateria, Xylopia), and others (SERNAP 2000). The most striking landscape element is the Caparucho Huanchaca plateau (approximately 900 m high), which has very unique vegetation compared to other areas in the country (Killeen and Schulemberg 1998, Navarro and Maldonado 2002, SERNAP 2000). San Ignacio de Velasco Municipal Reserve is located to the west of Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, and there are no precise data available for this area. Tourism and natural resource protection are coordinated by Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza (FAN) and SERNAP, as well as scientific research activities. It is one of the national parks with the best infrastructure and personnel dedicated to its protection. Education activities are carried out in association with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Esta KBA se ubica en la región nororiental del departamento de Santa Cruz. El Parque Nacional Noel Kempff Mercado y la Reserva Municipal San Ignacio de Velasco se encuentran virtualmente libres de asentamientos humanos, salvo pequeños poblados que se sitúan sobre el río Paraguá. El acceso a esta zona por tierra sólo es posible durante la época seca (de abril a septiembre). Algunas de las especies leñosas en las sabanas del cerrado son Brysonima coccolobifolia, Caryocar brasiliensis y Erytroxylum subersum. Los bosques secos están dominados por Copaifera langsdorffi i y Terminalia fagifolia; las colonias de Bambú Enano, Actinocladum verticillatum, son comunes. Existe también una formación de palmeras dominada por el Cusi (Orbignya phalerata). Los bosque de pantano se caracterizan por tener suelos saturados pero sin una inundación adecuada. Algunas familias importantes son Moraceae (Pseudolmedia, Ficus), Palmae (Euterpe, Mauritia), Annonaceae (Gateria, Xylopia) entre otras (SERNAP 2000). El elemento paisajístico más llamativo es la meseta de Caparuch o Huanchaca (con una altura aproximada de 900 m), que alberga una vegetación muy particular con relación a otras áreas del país (Killeen y Schulemberg 1998, Navarro y Maldonado 2002, SERNAP 2000). La Reserva Municipal San Ignacio de Velasco se encuentra al oeste del Parque Nacional Noel Kempff Mercado, y no se tienen datos precisos con relación a esta zona. El turismo y la protección de los recursos naturales son coordinados por la Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza (FAN) y el SERNAP, así como las actividades de investigación científica. Es uno de los parques nacionales con mejor infraestructura y personal dedicados a su resguardo. Las actividades de educación se llevan acabo en asociación con The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds (Tropidurus callathelys B1; Tropidurus chromatops B1).

Manageability of the site: The Protected Area Noel Kempff Mercado is under the management of the Servicio Nacional de Áreas Protegidas de Bolivia “SERNAP”, therefore, the present KBA might also be manageable as a unit.

Other site values: Chiquitano and Guarasugwe indigenous communities

Delineation rationale: Site delineation first considered the trigger species’ occurrence records provided by experts and collaborating institutions. Experts then discussed the species occupation according to those records in the site, their altitudinal ranges and the extent of the species’ main habitats/ecosystems, to define the final boundaries of the site.

Habitats

Land use: Land use is mainly for forestry, followed by agriculture and small-scale cattle ranching. The main activities also include sawmills, palm heart plantations, and unregulated harvesting of the açaí (Euterpe precatoria). Mining activities have gained notoriety due to gold mining in the San Simón mountain range in the department of Beni.

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	20	Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks
Forest	43	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Increase in fire frequency/intensity	Ongoing

Additional information