Download Mbaracayú Case Study

Mbaracayú Case Study
Geographic Situation of the Reserve
The Mbaracayú Forest Nature Reserve (MFNR) is located in the northern region of
eastern Paraguay, in the Canindeyú Department, which is bordered on the north by the
Republic of Brazil (Salas, et. al., 2007). It covers a total area of 64,405.7 hectares located
between 24 º 00 and 24° 15’ latitude south, and 55 ° 00 and 55° 32’ longitude west.
According to the ecoregional classifications proposed by the World Bank, the MFNR is
located in a transition area between the Interior and Closed (Cerrado) Atlantic Forests.
The Interior Atlantic Forest is classified as a subtropical semi-deciduous forest, while the
Cerrado is defined as a complex of meadows and tropical and subtropical savanna
forests(Moisés Bertoni Foundation/World Bank, 2005).
Characteristics of the Region: Soils, Flora and Fauna
Soils: Between 70% and 80% of the soils are classified in the ultisol order, Arenic Rhodic
Paleudult subgroup, which originated from sandstone and have a rugged surface, no rock
cover and good drainage. Between 20% and 30% of soils are classified in the entisol,
alfisol and oxisol orders. Entisols are found in the Mbaracayú Mountain Range. They are
not very deep and have excessive drainage, have a moderate rock cover and their relief
is over 15%. Alfisols can be found in the floodplains near rivers and streams, have poor
drainage, no rock cover and a flat surface, while oxisols can be found at the top of the
mountain range. They have a flat surface, no rock cover and good drainage.
The general lithology of the Reserve contains rocks of sedimentary origin and, in some
places, igneous intrusions, such as basalts. Sandstone from the Triassic Period can be
generally found, as well as Paleozoic rocks of the Permian Period. The two most
important formations are Misiones (Mezosoic, Triassic) and Tacuary (Paleozoic,
Permian). The rock formation in Tacuary contains a succession of siltstone, shales and
fine-grained sandstone and limestone, generally oolitic. The limestone comes from
calcareous remains from old lakes, swamps and large rivers.
It is generally made up of Mezosoic mountains from the Cretacean Period that are largely
eroded, creating very flat and homogenous mountain tops shaped like mesas, called
plateaus. Interestingly, there are a few elevations where the erosion process has not
taken place in its entirety. The Mbaracayú Mountain Range is not very irregular, with its
lowest elevation being 140 masl and the highest being 480 masl. It is thus an elongated,
continuous and not very winding string of mountains, with pronounced hillsides from
which affluent streams of the Jejuí'mi River flow. The Jejuí'mi River in turn divides the
basins of the Paraguay River and the Paraná River. (Moisés Bertoni Foundation/World
Bank, 2005)
Flora: The MFNR is considered globally as a Centre of Plant Diversity. The Smithsonian
Institution has identified 46 such centers that have environmental importance because of
the high biodiversity that can be found in them. To date, 161 species of pterydophita
distributed among 22 families have been identified. From the whole of the species, two
have been declared threatened to some extent, according to the Conference on Decision
and Control (CDC), nine according to Bertoni, et al (1994). Only one species is in the
IUCN Red List (Walter and Gillet, 1998). No species appeared in the IUCN Red List in
2000 (Hilton-Taylor, 2000). Seven species of fern have some sort of characteristic that
has either current or potential economic value (Table 1).
However, 927 species of phanerogamous plants distributed among 116 families have
been registered. The CDC has classified 97 of these species as threatened to some
degree, while Bertoni et. al. (1994), classified sixty-eight of these species as threatened
to some dregree. Twenty-five of them are in the 1997 IUCN Red List and eight in the
2000 IUCN Red List. Of the 927 aforementioned species, 215 have some characteristic
that has current or potential economic value.
Some of the most recent studies on the Reserve's flora and vegetation have provided
new data and listings of vascular plants, such as types of fern.
Ethnobotanical studies have also been made on the indigenous communities located in
the Reserve's geographical region, mainly concerned with the use of medicinal herbs.
Fauna: The MFNR has a vast wealth of animal species, especially when it comes to its
bird fauna, since the area records 50% of all the known species of Paraguay. It also has
the highest number of endangered species (30 of them). In 1999, the Wildlife
Conservation Society created a conservation management plan for the jaguar throughout
all of Latin America and the MFNR was one of the geographical units concerned. It is a
fact that there are at least 89 species of mammals in the Reserve (Cartes, et al, 2004).
The Reserve's mammalian fauna include 8 species of marsupials, 2 species of anteater,
5 species of armadillo, 22 species of chiroptera, 2 species of primate, 3 canids, 2 species
of procyonidae, 5 species of mustelidae, 5 species of felid, 1 species of tapir, 2 species of
peccary, 3 species of deer and 27 species of rodent. The species that are a priority of
conservation efforts include the yurumí or anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), the
anguja mukure pyta or southern red-sided opossum (Monodelphis sorex), the mbopi pyta
or red myotis (Myotis ruber), the jagua yvyguy or bush dog (Speothos venaticus), the
mborevi or tapir (Tapirus terrestris ), the akuti po’i or azara’s agouti (Dasyprocta azarae),
the yaguareté or jaguar (Panthera onca), the aguara guasú or maned wolf (Chrysocyon
brachyurus ), the tañykati or white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) (Cartes, et al,
2004)(Table 2).
There are two species with historical records under the category "Endangered"; six
species are listed as "Vulnerable", as well as another species, which has high social
value (used for nutritional purposes), the mborevi; other 11 species are listed under the
category "Almost Endangered", with the yaguareté garnering the most attention (Moisés
Bertoni Foundation/World Bank, 2005).
The MFNR's birds have been studied in greater detail than in any other site in Paraguay.
The Reserve has 409 species, which is approximately 59.4% of al the registered species
of Paraguay. The Reserve's habitat diversity confers it special importance in terms of bird
conservation at a global, regional and national scale. In comparison to other areas of
approximately the same extension in Paraguay, the MFNR is the site that has the most
endangered species (30), which is approximately 50% of the total of Paraguay's species,
with 9 species under the category "Vulnerable", 5 under the category "Endangered" and
16 that are "Almost Endangered". Sixty-two species endemic to the Upper Paraná
Atlantic Forest (UPAF) have been registered to date, out of 79 documented in all of
Paraguay. In terms of the total number of registered endemic species, the MFNR is the
fourth most important site in Paraguay after San Rafael (71 species), the Estancia Itabó
and the Caaguazú National Park (both with 67 registered species)(Moisés Bertoni
Foundation/World Bank, 2005)(Clay, et al, 2004).
After listing nine species of bird as globally endangered, the MFNR was conferred the
international classification "Important Bird Area" by Bird Life International. These species
include the crowned eagle (Harpyhalieatus coronatus), the jakuapetí or black-fronted
piping-guan (Pipile jacutinga), the gua'a johy or hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus
hyacinthinus), the vinaceous amazon (Amazona vinacea), the helmeted woodpecker
(Dryocopus galeatus), the São Paulo tyrannulet (Phylloscartes paulistus), the russetwinged spadebill (Platrynchus leucoryphs), the gray-and-chestnut seedeater (Sporophila
hypochroma) and the marsh seedeater (Sporophila palustris)(Clay, et al, 2004).
A study of the herpetozoa in the area reveals that there are 22 species of amphibian from
four different families and 21 reptiles from eight families.
The only species of reptile considered to be endangered is the broad-snouted caiman
(Caiman latirostris). The species of amphibians that may be facing some conservation
problem are: Bufo crucifer, Hyla faber, Leptodactylus labyrinthicus and Chiamoscleis
albopunctata; and the reptiles under this category are: Boa constrictor amarali, Epicretes
cenchria, Eunectes notaeus, Tupinambis merianae and Caiman yacaré (Cacciali, 2004).
Three rare species have been collected in the Reserve, two of which, because of their
characteristics, coincide with species that have not yet been confirmed for Paraguay.
They are: Elachistocleis ovalis, Liophis typhlus and Drymoluber spp. (cited by the reserve
for the first time in Cacciali, 2004)(Moisés Bertoni Foundation/World Bank, 2005).
Preliminary studies of the fish fauna show that there are 64 species of fish. The most
abundant species of fish in the Reserve belong to the characiforme (50%) and the
siluriform (34.4%) orders.(Vera, 2004)
Knowledge of invertebrates in the Reserve is still very limited. Preliminary data indicate
the presence of 166 species of swallowtail moths, 54 species of coleoptera and 146
species of hymenoptera(Moisés Bertoni Foundation/The Nature Conservancy, 1997).