Pilón Lajas (14387)
Bolivia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d, B1

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Pilón Lajas

Central coordinates: Latitude: -15.0811, Longitude: -67.3562

System: terrestrial

Area of KBA (km²): 4053.47062

Protected area coverage (%): 98.47

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The reserve is located southwest of the department of Beni, in the Ballivián province, and east of the department of La Paz, in the Sud Yungas, Larecaja and Franz Tamayo provinces. It is located in the Sub-Andean physiographic province, with altitudes of up to 2,000 meters above sea level. The highlands extend from southeast to northwest, with steep slopes and deep valleys. The foothills extend into the eastern sector of the reserve. In the central part, along the banks of the Quiquibey River, there is a foothill plain. These are areas with tropical temperatures and seasonal rains; temperatures range between 23 and 2 °C on average. It has an average annual rainfall of 2,444 mm. It has two ecoregions and three sub-ecoregions ranging from the Yungas regions, with more or less 2,000 meters above sea level, to the Amazon forests with altitudes of less than 300 meters above sea level. These ecoregions are: Southwestern Amazon and Yungas. The Beu, Chepete and Muchanes mountain ranges are located within the Reserve. These highlands are located on the southwestern and southern side of the reserve. The site corresponds to low mountain ranges, with exuberant vegetation. The forest is quite tall, with several strata and some clearings, a consequence of landslides. There are also riverine forests (at the base of the highlands) that are in contact with the Beni River. There is a great diversity of palm species, including the Pachiuva (Socratea exorrhiza), Copa (Iriartea deltoidea), Motacú (Scheelea princeps), various chontas (Astrocaryum spp.), jatatas (Geonoma spp.) and the Palma Marfil (Phytelephas macrocarpa) (SERNAP 2000, Ergueta and Gómez 1997). To date, 736 vascular plant species have been recorded (out of the estimated 3,000), of which six plant species are endemic: Solanum exiguum, Piper tumupasense, Pentaplaris davidsmithii, Zamia boliviana, Cissus boliviana and Aphelandra sp. A great diversity of animals has been recorded, confirming, to date, the presence of 778 vertebrate species, of which 85 are large and medium-sized mammals, 531 birds, 35 amphibians, 58 reptiles and 69 fish. La reserva está situada al suroeste del departamento del Beni, en la provincia Ballivián, y este del departamento de La Paz, en las provincias sud Yungas, Larecaja y Franz Tamayo. Se encuentra en la Provincia fisiográfica Subandina, con altitudes de hasta 2.000 msnm. Presenta serranías que se extienden de sureste a noroeste, presentando fuertes laderas y valles profundos. El piedemonte se extiende en el sector este de la Reserva. En la parte central, a orillas del Río Quiquibey se extiende una llanura de piedemonte. Son zonas con temperaturas tropicales y lluvias estacionales, en promedio las temperaturas oscilan entre 23 y 2 °C. Presenta una precipitación media anual de 2.444 mm. Cuenta con dos ecoregiones y tres sub-ecoregiones que van desde las regiones yungueñas, con más o menos 2.000 msnm, hasta los bosques de la Amazonia con altitudes menores a los 300 msnm. Siendo las ecoregiones: Sudoeste de la Amazonia y Yungas. Las serranías Beu, Chepete y Muchanes se localizan dentro de la Reserva. Estas serranías se encuentran en el lado suroccidental y sur de la Reserva. El sitio corresponde a las serranías bajas, con exuberante vegetación. El bosque es bastante alto, con varios estratos y algunos claros, consecuencia de los deslizamientos de tierra. También se encuentran bosques riverinos (en las bases de las serranías) que tienen contacto con el río Beni. Existe una gran diversidad de especies de palmas, entre las cuales destacan la Pachiuva (Socratea exorrhiza), la Copa (Iriartea deltoidea), el Motacú (Scheelea princeps), varias chontas (Astrocaryum spp.), jatatas (Geonoma spp.) y la Palma Marfil (Phytelephas macrocarpa) (SERNAP 2000, Ergueta y Gómez 1997). Se han registrado hasta la fecha 736 especies de plantas vasculares (de las 3.000 estimadas) de las cuales seis especies de plantas son endémicas: Solanum exiguum, Piper tumupasense, Pentaplaris davidsmithii, Zamia boliviana, Cissus boliviana y Aphelandra sp. Se ha registrado una gran diversidad de animales, confirmándose, hasta la fecha, la presencia de 778 especies de vertebrados, de los cuales 85 son mamíferos grandes y medianos, 531 aves, 35 anfibios, 58 reptiles y 69 peces.

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 identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas). KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Tropical Andes Hotspot (2015-2023). Trigger species qualified area: Ara militaris A1d; Phyllomyias weedeni A1b; Oreobates madidi B1

Additional biodiversity: There is a great diversity of palm species, including the Pachiuva (Socratea exorrhiza), the Copa (Iriartea deltoidea), the Motacú (Scheelea princeps), several chontas (Astrocaryum spp. ), jatatas (Geonoma spp.), the Ivory Palm (Phytelephas macrocarpa), the asaí palm (Euterpe precatoria), the royal palm (Mauritia flexuosa) that forms extensive palm groves in flooded forest areas. Also important are the mara (Swietenia macrophylla), cedar (Cedrela odorata), palo maría (Calophyllum brasiliense), ochoó (Hura crepitans), and tajibo (Tabebuia spp.) (SERNAP 2000, Ergueta and Gómez 1997). There are six endemic plant species, including Solanum exiguum, Piper tumupasense, Pentaplaris davidsmithii, Zamia boliviana, Cissus boliviana and Aphelandra sp. The fauna includes the jaguar (Panthera onca), the londra (Pteronura brasiliensis), the marimono (Ateles paniscus), the pejichi (Priodontes maximus), the manechi (Alouatta seniculus), the river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) and the black caiman (Melanosuchus niger). Existe una gran diversidad de especies de palmas, entre las cuales destacan la Pachiuva (Socratea exorrhiza), la Copa (Iriartea deltoidea), el Motacú (Scheelea princeps), varias chontas (Astrocaryum spp.), jatatas (Geonoma spp.), la Palma Marfil (Phytelephas macrocarpa) la palma asaí (Euterpe precatoria), la palma real (Mauritia flexuosa) que forma extensos palmares en zonas inundadas de bosque. También son importantes la mara (Swietenia macrophylla), el cedro (Cedrela odorata), el palo maría (Calophyllum brasiliense), el ochoó (Hura crepitans), el tajibo (Tabebuia spp.)(SERNAP 2000, Ergueta y Gómez 1997). Existen seis especies de plantas endémicas, entre ellas Solanum exiguum, Piper tumupasense, Pentaplaris davidsmithii, Zamia boliviana, Cissus boliviana y Aphelandra sp. Entre la fauna destacan el jaguar (Panthera onca), la londra (Pteronura brasiliensis), el marimono (Ateles paniscus), el pejichi (Priodontes maximus), el manechi (Alouatta seniculus), la peta de río (Podocnemis unifilis) y el caimán negro (Melanosuchus niger).

Manageability of the site: The area is administered through co-management between National Protected Areas Service and the Tsimán-Mosetén Regional Council, making it an example of indigenous participation in its co-management. The area has an interesting potential for developing wildlife management programs or models with regional applicability; it is also a natural reservoir of an enormous diversity of genetic resources. There is a strict protection zone, which is intended to preserve nature, guaranteeing its natural evolution and pristine state. Only guardianship and scientific research activities are allowed in this zone. In the other zones, regulated forestry, regulated tourism activities, environmental education, scientific research, regulated harvesting of jatata, and productive activities such as agriculture, moderate livestock, fish farming or beekeeping, developed using agroecological, agro-biological and other environmentally friendly techniques, are permitted. Regulated commercial fishing is also permitted in certain areas. The area has great tourism potential, which can be exploited in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. La administración del Área se realiza en el marco de la co-gestión entre el SERNAP y el Consejo Regional Tsimán-Mosetén, convirtiéndose en un ejemplo de participación indígena en su co-manejo. El Área tiene una interesante potencialidad para desarrollar programas o modelos de manejo de vida silvestre con aplicabilidad regional, además es reservorio natural de una enorme diversidad de recursos genéticos. Existe una zona de protección estricta, la cual está destinada a preservar la naturaleza, garantizando su evolución natural y su estado prístino. En esta zona sólo se permiten actividades de guardianía y de investigación científica. En las demás zonas se permite el aprovechamiento forestal regulado, actividades turísticas reguladas, educación ambiental, investigación científica, aprovechamiento regulado de la jatata; además actividades productivas como agricultura, pecuaria moderada, piscicultura o apicultura, desarrolladas mediante técnicas agroecológicas, agrobiológicas y otras que sean amistosas con el medio ambiente. También en ciertas zonas se permite la pesca comercial reglamentada. El Área tiene un gran potencial turístico, que puede aprovecharse de una manera sostenible y amigable con el medio ambiente.

Other site values: Tsimané, Mosetene and Tacana indigenous communities Comunidades originarias indígenas Tsimané, Mosetene y Tacana

Delineation rationale: The kba follows the boundaries of the Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Indigenous Territory.

Habitats

Land use: Land use is mainly for sustainable tourism, sustainable forest management of timber species (mara, cedar, oak, ochoó, tajibo), management of non-timber species (jatata, vanilla, incense), agricultural production (banana, cacao, rice, asaí), organic coffee production, sustainable commercial fishing, among the main uses. The indigenous communities are authorized to take advantage of natural resources (hunting, fishing, fruit gathering) for their subsistence following the regulations. El uso de la tierra es principalmente para el turismo sostenible, manejo forestal sostenible de especies maderables (mara, cedro, roble, ochoó, tajibo), manejo de no maderables (jatata, vainilla, incienso), producción agrícola (plátano, cacao, arroz, asaí), producción orgánica de café, pesca comercial sostenible, entre los principales usos. Las comunidades indígenas tiene autorización para aprovechar de los recursos naturales (caza, pesca, recolección de frutos) para su subsistencia siguiendo las regulaciones.

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	95	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland
Wetlands(Inland)	5	Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Among its main threats are illegal logging, poaching for commercial purposes, and gold mining.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Climate change & severe weather	Habitat shifting & alteration		Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Shifting agriculture	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]	Ongoing

Additional information