Map of the Month: Chiquitano and Pantanal
Map boundaries: 10 to 20 degrees South; 56 to 64 degrees West
Countries: Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay
Overview
This map area covers the transition between the moist Amazonian forests and the drier Chaco area, a tropical dry forest. To the northwest and north, the Amazon rain forests reach their southernmost extent and grade into drier, more seasonal forests. On the southwestern edge of the map, the edge of the Andes contain tropical moist forests and tropical dry forests. To the east are the Chiquitano dry forests of Santa Cruz and Mato Grosso and the Cerrado, a savanna-shrubland mosaic that extends in isolated outcrops from Beni and Santa Cruz across Mato Grosso and a large area of southern Brazil. On the southeast is the largest wetland in the neotropics, the Pantanal, which is increasingly known as a destination for ecotourism.
Ecoregions and Provinces/Political Subdivisions
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
NT 105, Bolivian Yungas. Found in Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia. Lowland evergreen, montane, and cloud forests covered with epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and mosses. Many endemic birds and mammals.
NT 135, Madeira-Tapajos moist forests. Found in Beni and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia; Mato Grosso and Rondonia states of Brazil. Tropical rainforest and some savanna covering lowlands to mountains up to 3700 feet. Igapo forests of Piranhea, Physoca, and Polygonanthus, and Huberodendron.
NT 140, Mato Grosso tropical dry forests. Found in the State of Mato Grosso in Brazil. Seasonal rains and fires occur and impact a semi-evergreen forests of Bowdichia, ymenaea, and Piptadenia.
NT 165, Southern Andean Yungas. Found in Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia. A narrow strip of montane moist forest between the Chaco and Puna. At higher elevations, Andean alder, pine, and Podocarpus trees predominate. At lower elevations, Lauraceae and Myrtaceae rainforest trees are found.
NT 166, Southwest Amazon moist forests. Found in Beni and Santa Cruz department of Bolivia. Forests near the Andean mountains contain tree bamboos, palms, rubber, and mahogany.
Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests
NT 206, Bolivian montane dry forests. Found in Chuaquisaca and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia. Seasonal dry forests of Acacia, Prosopis and chaparral thickets, wetlands along rivers, and cactus-covered slopes.
NT 210, Chaco. Found in Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia; Alto Paraguay Department of Paraguay. Savanna and thorn forests of Prosopis and cactuses.
NT 212, Chiquitano dry forests. Found in Beni and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia; Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Rondonia of Brazil. Dry thorny scrub of Schinopsis, Anadenanthera, Caesalpinia, and Tabebura.
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands
NT 702, Beni Savanna. Found in Beni and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia. Acacia, grasses and palms such as Euterpe in forest islands. The land floods for 4 to 10 months per year.
NT 704, Cerrado. Found in Beni and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia; Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Rondonia states of Brazil. The largest savanna in South America. Shrub species include Caryocar, Qualea, Byrsonima, and Tabebuia.
Flooded Grasslands and Savannas
NT 907, Pantanal. Found in Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states of Brazil; and Alto Paraguay Department of Paraguay. The largest wetland in the neotropics, mostly submerged in the wet season, containing floating plant communities.
Freshwater Ecoregions of the World
South America Region
Montane Freshwaters
340. Cuyan-Desaguadero. Found in Argentina—La Rioja and San Juan provinces
Temperate Floodplain Rivers and Wetlands
345. Lower Parana. Found in Argentina—Salta and Santiago del Estero province
Tropical and Subtropical Floodplain Rivers and Wetland Complexes
342. Chaco. Found in Argentina—Salta and Jujuy provinces; and Bolivia—Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz and Tarija departments.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos. The site consists of six settlements dating to the early 1700s: San Francisco Javier, Concepcion, Santa Ana, San Miguel, San Rafael, and San Jose in eastern Bolivia. Found in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. Ecoregion 212, Chiquitano dry forests.
El Fuerte de Samaipata (Fuerte on map). An archaeological site from the 14th to 16th century. A huge sculptured rock is unique in the Americas. Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. Ecoregion 206, Bolivian montane dry forests.
Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. A rich mosaic of habitat types at the transition between Amazon rain forests and drier cerrado habitats. The dry habitats are on a flat-topped mountain, the Huanchaca Meseta, which rises 500 m above the surrounding rainforest. Waterfalls plunge down the steep escarpment. Tapirs and anteaters are among the wildlife. Found in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. Ecoregions 135 (Madeira-Tapajos moist forests), 212 (Chiquitano dry forests) and 704 (Cerrado).
Pantanal. World’s largest freshwater wetland, flooded by the Paraguay River and tributaries during the summer wet season (October to April). The area contains seasonally flooded forests and grasslands. The Estrada Transpantaneira is a dead end road in southern Mato Grosso that is used for wildlife viewing, especially caimans and wading birds. Boat rides also embark for Corumba in Mato Grosso do Sul. Found in Brazil, states of Mato Grosso and South Mato Grosso. Ecoregion 907 (Pantanal).
Ramsar Sites—wetlands of international importance
Banadas del Izozog and Parapeti River. Found in Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia. Ecoregion 210, Chaco.
Laguna Concepcion. Found in Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia. Ecoregion 212, Chiquitano dry forests.
Palmar de las Islas y los Salinas de San Jose. Found in Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia. Ecoregion 210, Chaco.
Pantanal Boliviano. Found in Santa Cruz Department of Brazil. Ecoregion 907, Pantanal.
Pantanal Matogrossense. Found in Mato Grosso State of Brazil. Ecoregion 907, Pantanal.
Reserva Particular do Patrimonio Natural. Found in Mato Grosso State of Brazil. Ecoregion 907, Pantanal.
Rio Negro. Found in Alto Paraguay Department, Paraguay. Ecoregions 210 (Chaco) and 907 (Pantanal).
Other points of interest:
Alto Paragua Reserve. Important bird area found in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. Ecoregions 212 , Chiquitano and 907, Pantanal.
Amboro National Park. Found in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. This park on the eastern edge of the Andes consists of cloud forests and tree ferns with 830 species of birds. Spectacled bears are among the wildlife. Ecoregion 105, Bolivian Yungas.
Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park. A region of tablelands and escarpments among dry and scrubby vegetation includes several waterfalls. Found in state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Ecoregion 704, Cerrado.
Inmovilizacion Itenez Reserve. Important bird area found in Beni Department, Bolivia. Ecoregions 135, Madeira-Tapajos moist forests; and 702, Beni Savanna.
Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park. Found in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. The largest protected area in South America includes the northern extension of the Chaco dry forest. Includes Palmar de las Islas, important bird area and home of rhea and tinamou.
Pacaas Novas National Park. Protects rare Amazon forest plants and is the center of an indigenous people preserve. The region is inhabited by groups that have only been contacted for the past 25 years, as well as uncontacted groups (http://www.forests.org/, accessed 3/22/09). Found in state of Rondonia, Brazil. Ecoregion 135, Madeira-Tapajos moist forests.
San Matias. Important bird area found in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. Ecoregion 212 and 907.
References:
Abell, Robin and 27 others. 2008. Freshwater Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Biogeographic Units for Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation. Bioscience 58:403-414.
Emma Beare, ed. 2006. 501 Must-Visit Natural Wonders. Bounty Books.
BirdLife International. 2008. BirdLife’s Online World Bird Database. Accessed 29/12/2008 at http://www.birdlife.org/
Eyewitness Travel—Brazil. DK Publishing, 2007.
Olson, David M., et al., 2001. Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth. BioScience 51:933-938.
Read, James. 2008. The Rough Guide to Bolivia. Rough Guides, New York.
Schultz, Patricia. 2003. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Workman Publishing.
Riley, Laura and William. 2005. Nature’s Strongholds. Princeton University Press.
Spalding, Mark D. and 14 others. 2007. Marine Ecoregions of the World: A Bioregionalization of Coastal and Shelf Areas. Bioscience 57:573-583.
Map boundaries: 10 to 20 degrees South; 56 to 64 degrees West
Countries: Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay
Overview
This map area covers the transition between the moist Amazonian forests and the drier Chaco area, a tropical dry forest. To the northwest and north, the Amazon rain forests reach their southernmost extent and grade into drier, more seasonal forests. On the southwestern edge of the map, the edge of the Andes contain tropical moist forests and tropical dry forests. To the east are the Chiquitano dry forests of Santa Cruz and Mato Grosso and the Cerrado, a savanna-shrubland mosaic that extends in isolated outcrops from Beni and Santa Cruz across Mato Grosso and a large area of southern Brazil. On the southeast is the largest wetland in the neotropics, the Pantanal, which is increasingly known as a destination for ecotourism.
Ecoregions and Provinces/Political Subdivisions
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
NT 105, Bolivian Yungas. Found in Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia. Lowland evergreen, montane, and cloud forests covered with epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and mosses. Many endemic birds and mammals.
NT 135, Madeira-Tapajos moist forests. Found in Beni and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia; Mato Grosso and Rondonia states of Brazil. Tropical rainforest and some savanna covering lowlands to mountains up to 3700 feet. Igapo forests of Piranhea, Physoca, and Polygonanthus, and Huberodendron.
NT 140, Mato Grosso tropical dry forests. Found in the State of Mato Grosso in Brazil. Seasonal rains and fires occur and impact a semi-evergreen forests of Bowdichia, ymenaea, and Piptadenia.
NT 165, Southern Andean Yungas. Found in Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia. A narrow strip of montane moist forest between the Chaco and Puna. At higher elevations, Andean alder, pine, and Podocarpus trees predominate. At lower elevations, Lauraceae and Myrtaceae rainforest trees are found.
NT 166, Southwest Amazon moist forests. Found in Beni and Santa Cruz department of Bolivia. Forests near the Andean mountains contain tree bamboos, palms, rubber, and mahogany.
Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests
NT 206, Bolivian montane dry forests. Found in Chuaquisaca and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia. Seasonal dry forests of Acacia, Prosopis and chaparral thickets, wetlands along rivers, and cactus-covered slopes.
NT 210, Chaco. Found in Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia; Alto Paraguay Department of Paraguay. Savanna and thorn forests of Prosopis and cactuses.
NT 212, Chiquitano dry forests. Found in Beni and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia; Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Rondonia of Brazil. Dry thorny scrub of Schinopsis, Anadenanthera, Caesalpinia, and Tabebura.
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands
NT 702, Beni Savanna. Found in Beni and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia. Acacia, grasses and palms such as Euterpe in forest islands. The land floods for 4 to 10 months per year.
NT 704, Cerrado. Found in Beni and Santa Cruz departments of Bolivia; Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Rondonia states of Brazil. The largest savanna in South America. Shrub species include Caryocar, Qualea, Byrsonima, and Tabebuia.
Flooded Grasslands and Savannas
NT 907, Pantanal. Found in Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states of Brazil; and Alto Paraguay Department of Paraguay. The largest wetland in the neotropics, mostly submerged in the wet season, containing floating plant communities.
Freshwater Ecoregions of the World
South America Region
Montane Freshwaters
340. Cuyan-Desaguadero. Found in Argentina—La Rioja and San Juan provinces
Temperate Floodplain Rivers and Wetlands
345. Lower Parana. Found in Argentina—Salta and Santiago del Estero province
Tropical and Subtropical Floodplain Rivers and Wetland Complexes
342. Chaco. Found in Argentina—Salta and Jujuy provinces; and Bolivia—Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz and Tarija departments.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos. The site consists of six settlements dating to the early 1700s: San Francisco Javier, Concepcion, Santa Ana, San Miguel, San Rafael, and San Jose in eastern Bolivia. Found in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. Ecoregion 212, Chiquitano dry forests.
El Fuerte de Samaipata (Fuerte on map). An archaeological site from the 14th to 16th century. A huge sculptured rock is unique in the Americas. Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. Ecoregion 206, Bolivian montane dry forests.
Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. A rich mosaic of habitat types at the transition between Amazon rain forests and drier cerrado habitats. The dry habitats are on a flat-topped mountain, the Huanchaca Meseta, which rises 500 m above the surrounding rainforest. Waterfalls plunge down the steep escarpment. Tapirs and anteaters are among the wildlife. Found in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. Ecoregions 135 (Madeira-Tapajos moist forests), 212 (Chiquitano dry forests) and 704 (Cerrado).
Pantanal. World’s largest freshwater wetland, flooded by the Paraguay River and tributaries during the summer wet season (October to April). The area contains seasonally flooded forests and grasslands. The Estrada Transpantaneira is a dead end road in southern Mato Grosso that is used for wildlife viewing, especially caimans and wading birds. Boat rides also embark for Corumba in Mato Grosso do Sul. Found in Brazil, states of Mato Grosso and South Mato Grosso. Ecoregion 907 (Pantanal).
Ramsar Sites—wetlands of international importance
Banadas del Izozog and Parapeti River. Found in Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia. Ecoregion 210, Chaco.
Laguna Concepcion. Found in Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia. Ecoregion 212, Chiquitano dry forests.
Palmar de las Islas y los Salinas de San Jose. Found in Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia. Ecoregion 210, Chaco.
Pantanal Boliviano. Found in Santa Cruz Department of Brazil. Ecoregion 907, Pantanal.
Pantanal Matogrossense. Found in Mato Grosso State of Brazil. Ecoregion 907, Pantanal.
Reserva Particular do Patrimonio Natural. Found in Mato Grosso State of Brazil. Ecoregion 907, Pantanal.
Rio Negro. Found in Alto Paraguay Department, Paraguay. Ecoregions 210 (Chaco) and 907 (Pantanal).
Other points of interest:
Alto Paragua Reserve. Important bird area found in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. Ecoregions 212 , Chiquitano and 907, Pantanal.
Amboro National Park. Found in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. This park on the eastern edge of the Andes consists of cloud forests and tree ferns with 830 species of birds. Spectacled bears are among the wildlife. Ecoregion 105, Bolivian Yungas.
Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park. A region of tablelands and escarpments among dry and scrubby vegetation includes several waterfalls. Found in state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Ecoregion 704, Cerrado.
Inmovilizacion Itenez Reserve. Important bird area found in Beni Department, Bolivia. Ecoregions 135, Madeira-Tapajos moist forests; and 702, Beni Savanna.
Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park. Found in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. The largest protected area in South America includes the northern extension of the Chaco dry forest. Includes Palmar de las Islas, important bird area and home of rhea and tinamou.
Pacaas Novas National Park. Protects rare Amazon forest plants and is the center of an indigenous people preserve. The region is inhabited by groups that have only been contacted for the past 25 years, as well as uncontacted groups (http://www.forests.org/, accessed 3/22/09). Found in state of Rondonia, Brazil. Ecoregion 135, Madeira-Tapajos moist forests.
San Matias. Important bird area found in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. Ecoregion 212 and 907.
References:
Abell, Robin and 27 others. 2008. Freshwater Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Biogeographic Units for Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation. Bioscience 58:403-414.
Emma Beare, ed. 2006. 501 Must-Visit Natural Wonders. Bounty Books.
BirdLife International. 2008. BirdLife’s Online World Bird Database. Accessed 29/12/2008 at http://www.birdlife.org/
Eyewitness Travel—Brazil. DK Publishing, 2007.
Olson, David M., et al., 2001. Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth. BioScience 51:933-938.
Read, James. 2008. The Rough Guide to Bolivia. Rough Guides, New York.
Schultz, Patricia. 2003. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Workman Publishing.
Riley, Laura and William. 2005. Nature’s Strongholds. Princeton University Press.
Spalding, Mark D. and 14 others. 2007. Marine Ecoregions of the World: A Bioregionalization of Coastal and Shelf Areas. Bioscience 57:573-583.
