Los Lípez (200819)
Bolivia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1d, B1

Year of last assessment: 2024

National site name: Los Lípez

Central coordinates: Latitude: -22.2104, Longitude: -67.4809

System: terrestrial, freshwater

Elevation (m): 4000 to 5800

Area of KBA (km²): 14229.59691

Protected area coverage (%): 47.57

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: No

Site details

Site description: Los Lípez is a Ramsar site located in the extreme south of the department of Potosí, at an altitude of 4,200 to 6,000 m a.s.l., with an area of 1,427,717 hectares. This site also overlaps with the Eduardo Abaroa National Reserve. The site is a complex of permanent, brackish and alkaline lagoons, interconnected by temporary and low-flow rivers, a product of the extreme arid climate of the region that is located in a volcanic landscape in a semi-desert area. Like an oasis in the middle of a barren expanse, these wetlands offer fresh water, rich in plant matter whose purpose is to feed camelid livestock. Striking colored lagoons and hot springs contrast this icy area. On the slopes of volcanic rocks you can see yareta cushions, small communities of keñua and extensive open grasslands. Three species of flamingos distinguish its fauna, made up of more than 150,000 of these individuals, in an entire complex of high Andean lagoons where Laguna Colorada is the most important breeding site globally for these species. Due to their rarity, the suri or Andean ostrich, the horned coot and the wetland plover also stand out. The most notable mammals include the vicuña, a highly important species for its economic potential, the Andean fox and the vizcachas. Los Lípez se encuentra ubicado en el extremo sur del departamento de Potosí, a una altitud de 4.200 a 6.000 m s.n.m., con una superficie de 1.427.717 hectáreas. El sitio Ramsar Los Lípez es un complejo de lagunas permanentes, salobres y alcalinas, interconectadas por ríos de carácter temporal y de poco caudal, producto de la extrema aridez del clima de la región que se sitúa en un paisaje volcánico en una zona semidesértica. Como oasis en medio de una yerma extensión, estos bofedales ofrecen agua fresca, rica en materia vegetal cuyo fin es alimentar al ganado camélido. Llamativas lagunas de colores y aguas termales contrastan esta gélida área. En las laderas de rocas volcánicas se observan los cojines de yareta, pequeñas comunidades de keñua y extensos pajonales abiertos de gramíneas. Tres especies de flamencos singularizan su fauna, constituida por más de 150.000 de estos individuos, en todo un complejo de lagunas altoandinas donde laguna Colorada es el sitio de reproducción más importante a nivel global para estas especies. Por su rareza, además, se destacan el suri o avestruz andino, la gallareta cornuda y el chorlito de los bofedales. Los mamíferos más notables incluyen a la vicuña, especie altamente importante por su potencial económico, el zorro andino y las vizcachas.

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). Trigger species: Phoenicoparrus andinus A1b, A1d; Fabiana squamata A1a, B1; Werneria glaberrima A1b, B1.

Additional biodiversity: This site also holds the rediscovered population of the Endangered Chinchilla chinchilla.

Manageability of the site: The Eduardo Abaroa NAtional Reserve is under the management of the Servicio Nacional de Áreas Protegidas de Bolivia “SERNAP”, and the Ministry of Environment is currently developing a Management Plan for the RAMSAR SIte. Therefore, the present KBA can also be managed as a unit.

Supersedes another site: This new KBA replaces previous sites: 14355 Lagunas de Agua Dulce del Sureste de Potosí and 14356 Lagunas de Agua Dulce del Sureste de Potosí.

Delineation rationale: Site delineation follows the exact boundaries of the Los Lípez RAMSAR site (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Bolivia),

Habitats

Land use: Local communities and indigenous people holds small camelid livestock.

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)
Shrubland	20	Shrubland – Subtropical/tropical high altitude
Wetlands(Inland)	50	Wetlands (inland) – Permanent rivers/streams/creeks (includes waterfalls)

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