Beni Biological Station - Yacuma (23867)
Bolivia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d, B1

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Estación Biológica del Beni - Yacuma

Central coordinates: Latitude: -14.6500, Longitude: -66.2833

System: terrestrial, freshwater, freshwater

Elevation (m): 160 to 200

Area of KBA (km²): 3536.3936

Protected area coverage (%): 99.91

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Beni Biosphere Reserve and Biological Station was created on October 5, 1982, with the objective of protecting the region's flora, fauna, water resources, and biota in general (Source: SERNAP, 2020), and was later declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is located in the southwest of Beni department, between the municipalities of San Borja and Santa Ana de Yacuma in the José Ballivián and Yacuma provinces; it covers an area of 135,000 ha. It is the only protected area that includes samples of the Sabanas del Beni. Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza (FAN), 2006 registers the Beni Biosphere Reserve and Biological Station with an average annual temperature of 22-27º C, precipitation of 1,100 - 5,500 mm and between 0 - 5 arid months per year, while the pre-Andean Amazonian forests are generally characterized by average annual temperatures between 24-28º C, an average annual precipitation of 1,300 > 7,000, and between 0 - 2 arid months per year (Ibsich et al. 2003). The Beni Biosphere Reserve and Biological Station belongs to the Lowland Alluvial Plains Hydroecoregion, in the sector known as the Pluvial Pluvial Plains. Moraes et al. 2000, indicates that the vegetation is represented by three major complexes: forests, savannas and swamps, which include a total of 27 vegetation formations. It is important to note that three ecoregions converge in the Beni Biosphere Reserve and Biological Station: Amazonian Flooded Forests; Pre-Andean Amazonian Forests; and Floodplain Savannas of the Moxos Plains (Ibisch et al. 2003). La Reserva de Biosfera y Estación Biológica del Beni (EBB) fue creada el 5 de octubre de 1982, con el objetivo de proteger la flora, fauna, recursos hídricos y en general toda la biota de la región (Fuente: SERNAP, 2020), posteriormente fue declarada como Reserva de Biosfera de la UNESCO. Está ubicada al sudoeste del departamento del Beni, entre municipios de San Borja y Santa Ana de Yacuma de las provincias José Ballivián y Yacuma; con una superficie de 135.000 ha. Es la única área protegida que incluye muestras de las Sabanas del Beni. La Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza (FAN), 2006 registra a la RB EBB (Reserva de Biosfera y Estación Biológica del Beni) con una temperatura promedio anual de 22-27º C, precipitación de 1.100 – 5.500 mm y entre 0 – 5 meses áridos al año, mientras los bosques amazónicos del preandino se caracterizan en general por temperaturas promedios anuales entre 24-28º C, una precipitación promedio anual de 1.300 > 7.000, y entre 0 – 2 meses áridos al año (Ibsich et al. 2003). La Reserva de Biosfera y Estación Biológica del Beni pertenece a la Hidroecoregión de la Llanuras Aluviales de Tierras Bajas, en el sector denominado como Llanura Aluvial Pluviestacional. Moraes et al. 2000, indica que la vegetación está representada por tres complejos mayores: bosques, sabanas y pantanos, que incluyen un total de 27 formaciones de vegetación. Importante destacar que en la EBB confluyen tres ecorregiones: Bosques Amazónicos de Inundación; Bosques Amazónicos Preandinos, y Sabanas Inundables de los Llanos de Moxos (Ibisch et al. 2003).

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. (Moema obliqua A1b, B1; Alectrurus tricolor A1d)

Additional biodiversity: Important populations of Podocnemis unifilis can be found inside the KBA

Manageability of the site: This protected area is administered by the National Protected Areas Service (SERNAP) under the Ministry of Environment and Water (MMAyA) (Source: SERNAP, 2020). The Beni Biosphere Reserve and Biological Station belongs to the Lowland Alluvial Plains Hydroecoregion, in the sector known as the Pluvial Pluvial Plains. Moraes et al. 2000, indicate that the vegetation is represented by three major complexes: forests, savannas and swamps, which include a total of 27 vegetation formations. It is important to note that three ecoregions converge in the Beni Biological Station (EBB): Amazonian Flooded Forests; Pre-Andean Amazonian Forests; and Flooded Savannas of the Moxos Plains (Ibisch et al. 2003). It has different biological, ecological and sociocultural values that justify its maintenance as a protected area in the national system. However, the uncertain legal situation is affecting the area's conservation. Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza (FAN), 2006 recommends that the BR-EBB and the TCO's communities and their respective organizations evaluate the situation in order to agree on measures based on agreed-upon regulations to favor the area's conservation, seeking alternatives based on the identified problems. On the other hand, important research and projects are being developed, such as the Program for the Conservation of Bats in Bolivia (Lizarro, Aguirre, Vaca, 2023). It is considered one of the Important Bird Areas of the Americas (BO038**), registering threatened species in various categories, and is also among the RAMSAR sites. The area also has the following programs: Conservation of Biological Diversity, Environmental Research and Monitoring Program, Productive Management and Socioeconomic Development, Administrative and Territorial Management Program, and Environmental Education Program.

Supersedes another site: BO083 Estación Biológica del Beni

Delineation rationale: For the delimitation of the KBA we used the limits of two protected areas, one of national category (Beni Biosphere Reserve and Biological Station) and the other of departmental category (Yacuma Regional Park)

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Savanna	30	Savanna - Moist
Wetlands(Inland)	5	Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks
Forest	65	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	Ongoing
Climate change & severe weather	Storms & flooding		Ongoing

Additional information