NatureServe: Sustainable Development in Latin America

Priority Sites in Latin America

Eastern Slopes of the Andes

Participating Institutions

Methods

Priority Sites for Conservation in Latin America > Summary

In a study of five Latin American ecoregions of global importance, scientists from the NatureServe network of conservation data centers have identified high-priority unprotected sites in each ecoregion that need immediate conservation attention.

NatureServe's member programs in Panama (ANCON), Colombia (Corporación Valle del Cauca), Ecuador (Alianza Jatun Sacha/CDC-Ecuador), Peru (Universidad Agraria La Molina), Bolivia (TROPICO) and Paraguay (Secretaría del Ambiente, CDC-Paraguay) collaborated with The Nature Conservancy to conduct a rigorous scientific study to identify critical sites for conservation in Latin America. We focused on five high-priority ecoregions including the Biogeographic Choco, the eastern slopes of the Andes in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, the Peruvian Yungas, the Bolivian Yungas, and the Dry Chaco. The priority conservation sites and management alternatives highlighted by this study are based on the best available scientific information—much of it available for the first time. The three-year project was completed in September 2003.

Based on an analysis that emphasized areas with unique biological features that are not yet represented within parks and other protected areas, we identified the following five high priority sites:

Choco (Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador): Dagua Valley
Within this otherwise humid ecoregion, the Dagua Valley is an isolated area of drier habitats that support many endemic species. There is also intense human pressure from agricultural expansion.
Eastern Slopes of the Andes (Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru): Shuar Indigenous Area of Tsurakú.
This area is of outstanding biological value because it contains the highest concentrations of mahogany remaining in Ecuador. Unregulated logging of the mahogany is a serious problem, as is over-exploitation of hunted species by the native Shuar people. Shuar community leaders are very interested in developing management alternatives that maintain the region's natural resources.
Peruvian Yungas (Peru): Cloud Forests of Alto Huallaga. This region contains one of the highest concentrations of endemic monkeys in the world (three endemic species), and it serves as a natural corridor between the Abiseo River Protected Area to the north and the Tingo María National Park to the south. Threats include agricultural encroachment from the lowlands and mining in the higher mountains.
Bolivian Yungas (Bolivia): Irupana Zone.
This area of Bolivia is very rich in species and ecosystems because it contains a mosaic of vegetation types that range from very dry to extremely humid. Because of its proximity to La Paz, the area is experiencing intense colonization pressure related to mining. Secondary impacts from the mining communities include deforestation, excessive erosion, and water pollution.
Dry Chaco (Bolivia and Paraguay): Chaco Dunes.
This area in extreme northeastern Paraguay contains a variety of unique dry-vegetation types as well as several endemic species, and rests atop one of the largest sub-surface aquifers in South America. Human impacts are still relatively localized. However, the fragile nature of these dry habitats leave the area vulnerable to poor agricultural practices and overexploitation of the aquifer.