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National Parks >
Amboro National Park
LOCATION
It is located in the eastern part of the Department of Santa Cruz in
what is known as the “Andes Elbow”, a place where the western range
changes direction, heading south. On the west it limits with the
Carrasco National Park, which belongs to the Department of
Cochabamba.
Surface:The Park and the Integrated Management Area have a surface
of 637,600 hectares, while the part corresponding to the Park covers
442,500 hectares (44,250 km.2).
Range of altitude: It fluctuates between 3,200 and 300 masl.
CLIMATE
The climate is temperate in the high parts and warm in the low areas.
The annual average temperatures range between 12° C to 24° C,
depending upon the height of the regions. Rainfall varies according to
the zones, from 600 mm to 3,400 mm in the most humid zones.
Hydrology:The most important basins in the area correspond to the
Ichilo, Yapacani, Surutu, and San Mateo Rivers, which are tributaries
of the Mamore River.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE AREA
The area corresponds to the mountainous eco-region of the sub-tropical
humid forest of Yungas. It has a large diversity of humid mountain
eco-systems, with very humid sub-Andean and foothill forests, which
shelter a large biological diversity of species, with transition
areas to the sub-humid Tucuman-Bolivian forest, to the very humid
forest in the foothills and the dry forests of the meso-thermal
valleys. It is difficult to access the area due to its rough terrain,
a factor that has favored the area’s conservation, but that has not
happened with the park’s lower areas, which have been under the
pressure of colonizers.
FLORA
Among the enormous variety of plants in the park, the giant tree-like
ferns (Cyathea Alsophyla) stand out, which are found in the clouded
forests. There are also such tree species as mara or American mahogany,
asaí palm trees, mountain pine (Podocarpus spp.), walnut (Juglans
boliviana) and an enormous variety of species of orchids.
FAUNA
As a result of the Management Plan, 127 species of mammals have been
recorded, among which 43 species of bats stand out. Among the large
mammals we find the Andean bear o jucumari, the jaguar or American
tiger, the anteater. There is a large level of endemism in the Park,
105 species of reptiles and 73 species of amphibians, amongst which
are 50 species of toads. There are 812 bird species, of which the most
interesting are the crested turkey hen (Pauxi unicornis), and the
military parrot (Ara militaris). Many species of birds that are
endemic and threatened in other regions survive in the Park.
GENETIC
RESOURCES
The area is a natural reservoir for a large diversity of wild
genetic resources that belong to tropical eco-systems, as well as
species that are economically important, such as the fine woods that
are in the process of commercial extinction.
ARCHEOLOGY
In the southern part of the protected area, in its zone of influence,
we find the pre-Colombian ruins of the Samaipata Fort and the Tunal
pictographs.
SCENIC VALUES
The mountainous relief in the region and the peculiar rock formations,
with valleys and deep canyons, form a very beautiful landscape. Added
to this are torrential rivers and waterfalls, giving the area some
outstanding scenic characteristics.
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