Cerrado de Riberalta (14379)
Bolivia, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Cerrado de Riberalta
Central coordinates: Latitude: -11.2000, Longitude: -65.8000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 150 to 180
Area of KBA (km2): 209.08263
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The northern pampas of Beni, including the pampas of San Lorenzo (which, among others, encompasses communal territories of the San Lorenzo de Pampa and Desvelo peasant communities) have a very characteristic open vegetation that is also known internationally as Cerrado del Beni. While these areas locally tend to receive little attention due to their low productivity, in terms of biodiversity they are areas of great interest, since they are home to many species specialized in this environment so different from the Amazon forest.
Plant species adapted to fire abound in the pampas, such as trees with thick bark and plants with bulbs that sprout soon after fires. Animals have also adapted to this different context, and in the Cerrado Beniano a great diversity of animals has been recorded that are more common in Chiquitanía or the Chaco than in the Amazon. There are even several species whose distribution is practically limited to the Cerrado Beniano and therefore to a few pampas in the Beni. For these species, the conservation of the pampas becomes extremely important, since the elimination or intervention of these pampas could mean the loss of practically all of their habitat.
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 for Key Biodiversity Areas. Trigger species Buteogallus coronatus qualified under KBA Criteria A1a
Manageability of the site: This site does not have currently any form of management, however, local authorities are working to create a new Municipal Protected Area.
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
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Savanna | 40 | Savanna - Dry |
| Forest | 55 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical dry |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Vincent Vos, Instituto de Investigación Forestal de la Amazonía, Universidad Autonoma del Beni
Oswaldo Maillard Fundación para la Conservación del Bosque Chiquitano (FCBC)
Enrique Domic Red para la Conservación de Tortugas de Bolivia (RTB)
Victor Hugo García Asociación Civil Armonía