San Matías (14365)
Bolivia, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: San Matías
Central coordinates: Latitude: -17.6557, Longitude: -58.6532
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 108 to 1210
Area of KBA (km2): 29265.21762
Protected area coverage (%): 99.95
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The San Matías Integrated Management Natural Area (ANMI) was created on July 31, 1997 and is the second largest protected area of national interest in Bolivia, with an area of 2.9 million hectares. Being categorized as ANMI, it allows the use of natural resources in a sustainable manner. It covers the provinces of Ángel Sandóval, Germán Busch, Chiquitos and Velasco in the department of Santa Cruz. It occupies three large ecoregions in its area: the Chiquitano dry forest, flooded savannahs and the Cerrado. Its geography varies between plains, mountain ranges and undulating terrain with heights that vary between 108 m above sea level. n. m. (Mandioré Lagoon) up to 1,210 m above sea level. n. m. (Sunsás Mountains). Emblematic species such as the blue macaw live in this area; Also, the swamp deer, the flag anteater and the jaguar, among others. Conserving it allows us to ensure the continuity of important ecosystem services such as soil formation, climate regulation and water provision for the more than 1.2 million people who live in the area of influence, not only in Bolivia.
El Área natural de Manejo Integrado (ANMI) San Matías fue creada el 31 de julio de 1997 y es la segunda área protegida de interés nacional más grande en Bolivia, con una extensión de 2,9 millones de hectáreas. Al ser categorizada como ANMI, permite el aprovechamiento de los recursos naturales de manera sostenible. abarca las provincias de Ángel Sandóval, Germán Busch, Chiquitos y Velasco en el departamento de Santa Cruz, Ocupa en su área tres grandes ecorregiones: el bosque seco chiquitano, sabanas inundables y el cerrado. Su geografía varía entre planicies, serranías y terrenos ondulados con alturas que varían entre los 108 m s. n. m. (Laguna Mandioré) hasta 1 210 m s. n. m. (Serranía de Sunsás). En esta zona habitan especies emblemáticas como la paraba azul; también, el ciervo de los pantanos, el oso hormiguero bandera y el jaguar, entre otros. Conservarla permite asegurar la continuidad de servicios ecosistémicos importantes como la formación de suelos, la regulación del clima y provisión de agua para los más de 1,2 millones de personas que viven en el área de influencia, no solo en Bolivia.
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. Three trigger plant species (A1, B1), two of which also qualified under A1e; two mammal trigger species (A1d) and one bird species (A1b) (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus A1b).
Manageability of the site: The Protected Area San Matías is under the management of the National Service of Protected Areas of Bolivia "SERNAP for its name in spanish", therefore, the present KBA might also be manageable as a unit.
Delineation rationale: Site delineation follows the exact boundaries of the National Protected area San Matias (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Bolivia).
Habitats
Land use: The use of the space of natural resources in the communities is agriculture, livestock and crafts.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 30 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland |
| Forest | 45 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical swamp |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity |
Additional information
Contributors: Dirk Derek Independent; Consultant Asociación Civil Armonía
Victor Hugo García Asociación Civil Armonía
Adriana Ávila Consultant - Asociación Civil Armonía
Diego Peñaranda Asociación Civil Armonía
Enrique Domic Red para la Conservación de Tortugas de Bolivia (RTB)
Oswaldo Maillard Fundación para la Conservación del Bosque Chiquitano (FCBC)
Maira 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)