Download noel kempff mercado national park, bolivia

NOEL KEMPFF MERCADO NATIONAL PARK, BOLIVIA
Total Area Protected:
3,800,000 acres (927,000 ha)
Ecoregions Represented:
Beni Swamp and Gallery Forests, Bolivian Lowland Dry Forests,
Cerrado, Rondonia/Mato Grosso Moist Forests
Partner Institution:
Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza
Noel Kempff Mercado National Park is located in the northeast region of Santa Cruz, in a
climatic conversion zone characterized by a unique blend of biogeographic elements comprising
transitions from both the Amazon - Chaco as well as the Amazon - Cerrado ecoregions. For this
reason, the park protects one of the highest degrees of biodiversity in the Neotropical realm.
Encompassing an area of approximately 3.7 million acres (1.6 million ha), the park and
expansion zone protects biota that is quite distinct from other ecoregions represented by other
Bolivian protected areas. The area is very isolated and highly pristine with few people
inhabiting the park. On November 2000, the NKMNP was chosen among the “Natural Heritage
Sites of Humanity” by the United Nations Education , Science & Culture Organization
(UNESCO).
Ecological Significance
Recent biological inventories at Noel Kempff have found a rich and biologically diverse fauna,
including the South American tapir, capybara, and six species of cats. There are more than 560
species of resident and migratory birds, including a plethora of raptors, passerines, and parrots.
Rare species found within the park include the jaguar, giant otter, black caiman, bush dog, giant
armadillo, marsh deer, and maned wolf. Although the plant diversity has not yet been
extensively investigated, available information reflects a similar abundance of species, many
with medicinal and economic potential. A summary of species discovered to date includes:
more than 50 vegetation associations; more than 4,000 species of vascular plants; 621 species of
birds; 124 species of mammals; 136 species of reptiles and amphibians; 250 species of fish
(representing 60 percent of the Amazonian ichthyofauna known from Bolivia); and 97 species of
scarab beetles. Close to 30 species of new plants, mammas, and reptiles have been discovered
within the last ten years and some of these surveys were conducted during uncommonly low
rainfall periods.
Principal Threats Affecting Biodiversity at the Site
The project is engaged in a variety of protection, sustainable development, and sustainable
commercialization ventures that are assisting in the mitigation of the following threats:
commercial logging, non-sustainable wildlife extraction, deforestation for agriculture and cattle
ranching, as well as illegal drug trafficking. Uncontrolled timber extraction also contributes to
the exploitation of wildlife for the illicit international trade market. As roads have been built,
previously unreachable habitat has been invaded by construction crews, wood cutters, local
laborers and colonists. The international demand for both live animals and their products
(skins, furs, and feathers) creates great incentive for local hunters to target economically
valuable species. Additional threats to the park have been created through an increasing
number of incursions by gold miners working in the Los Fierros and Las Torres regions near the
Iténez River. The influx of additional families and the nature of the work have elevated the
levels of river pollution, soil erosion, and hunting.
Conservation Strategy at the Site
Protection efforts include support for park guards as well as infrastructure for patrolling and
managing the park’s territory. The project partners will work with surrounding communities to
launch ecotourism activities, an ornamental plant enterprise, and other productive enterprises
that enhance local income and help deter habitat destruction within park boundaries. In
addition, FAN will work with local timber companies to help implement sustainable forest
practices outside the park.
 The site consolidated in 1994 and since has solidified its standing in all aspects of site
consolidation. The control of illegal intrusions and environmental education activities in the
communities around the park figure prominently in the conservation strategy of NKMNP.
The principal threats to the site include commercial logging operations (already somewhat
mitigated by the CAP, see below), wildlife extraction, deforestation, gold mining and use of
the site as a transit area for illegal drug operations between Bolivia, Brazil, and other
countries. Concomitant aquatic pollution are occurring to the west of the NKMNP
Expansion Area but it is unknown to what extent this activity are impacting park habitats
and resources.
 Principal targets include the Huanchaca escarpment and plateau, the Ahlfeld and El
Encanto Falls areas, the Paucerna River and Verde River watersheds, and the Iténez River.
Key species include the threatened pampas deer; marsh deer; jaguar; giant otter; freshwater
dolphin; black caiman; commercially important fish species such as the pacú, tambaquí, and
surubí; and numerous species of forest and mixed-flock birds.