Cuenca Cotacajes La Paz (14357)
Bolivia, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, B1
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Cuenca Cotacajes La Paz
Central coordinates: Latitude: -16.9100, Longitude: -66.9548
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 1500 to 4500
Area of KBA (km2): 1039.76366
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site is located in the border between LA Paz and Cochabamba Depártments, central Bolivia. Ecologically it belongs to the inter-Andean dry valleys ecoregion. Landscape is characterized by medium to high mountain ranges with dissected valleys interspersed with small plains. Vegetation is typically represented by medium sized deciduous dry forests surrounded by thorny shrublands. At higher altitudes vegetation transitions to grasslands highly influenced by small-scale livestock grazing. Climate is on average warm with temperatures about 12 - 16°C, reaching up to 30°C, and precipitations about 500 to 700 ml. These valleys have been historically influenced by human activities, such as small-scale agriculture and livestock raising, which implies high transformation levels in some areas.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs (Yungasocereus inquisivensis B1; Cleistocactus laniceps B1; Pfeiffera paranganiensis B1; Cranioleuca henricae A1b, B1)
Additional biodiversity: Cranioleuca albiceps
Cranioleuca henricae
Grallaria erythrotis
Hapalopsittaca melanotis
Kleinothraupis calophrys
Manageability of the site: The KBA does not have any current form of management. However, due to the interest of the Departmental Government on KBAs it is possible in the future to foster its conservation and management.
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
Summary of habitats in KBA: rocky areas 20%
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 30 | Shrubland – Subtropical/tropical dry |
| Forest | 4 | 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 |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Alfredo Fuentes Claros Missouri Botanical Garden-Bolivia (MBG)
Romeo Rojas Estrada Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d'Orbigny (MAdO)
Victor Hugo García Consultant - Asociación Civil Armonía
Andrew Snyder Rewild
Dirk Derek Independent; Consultant Asociación Civil Armonía
Jennifer Cahill Centro de Biodiversidad y Genética, Universidad Mayor de San Simón (CBG)
Oswaldo Maillard Fundación para la Conservación del Bosque Chiquitano (FCBC)
Enrique Domic Red para la Conservación de Tortugas de Bolivia (RTB)
Adriana Ávila Consultant - Asociación Civil Armonía
Diego Peñaranda Asociación Civil Armonía