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National Parks >Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
LOCATION
The park is located in the northwestern part of the Department of
Santa Cruz, on the zone bordering Brazil. It has a surface of
914,000 hectares.
CLIMATE
It has a warm, humid tropical climate. Rainfall fluctuates between
1,600-2,500 mm a year.
HYDROLOGY
The most important basin is the Itenez or Guapore, where the
Paucerna and Verde Rivers meet. The Itenez is to the east and forms
part of the limits with Brazil, while the Paragua is to the west.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE AREA
The area is located in a bio-geographic area where the influences of the
Amazon region in the north, the dry, sub-tropical forest to the south,
the Brazilian hills to the east and the Chiquitano forest to the west,
converge. It also forms part of the extension of the Brazilian Shield,
and it is one of the most extensive heights in the region. These
characteristics help the park to shelter very diverse, unique
communities and populations of plants and animals in Bolivia. Among
its eco-systems, the sub-humid forest of the Shield stands out – it is
unique in Bolivia – the seasonal humid forest zones in the Shield in
the lowlands, riverbank forests, transitions to semi-deciduous forests
in the Shield, and the savannahs of the hills are in excellent state
of conservation. The zone has traditionally been used to exploit gum
FLORA
Floral records show that the park’s flora is rich in its diversity of
vegetation formations which are extremely interesting due to the
endemism, adaptation, and uniqueness of some communities. Economically
important species such as mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), oak (Amburana
caearensis), cedar (Cedrela odorata), gum (Hevea brasiliensis),
several species of palm trees such as the asaí or palmetto (Euterpe
precatoria) stand out, as well as an important diversity of species of
orchids and floral communities that are typical of the hills.
FAUNA
The area is inhabited by wild species that are threatened in other
regions of the country, such as the white deer (Ozotocerus
bezoarticus), deer (Masama guazoubira and Mazama americana), elk
(Tapirus terrestris). In the feline family there are jaguars (Panthera
onca), wild cats (Felis pardalis) and there are reports of black
jaguars (panthers). Of the 8 species of primates, the marmoset
monkey (Callithrix argentata), the marimono (Ateles paniscus) and
the manechi (Alouatta caraya) stand out.
It is estimated that
over 700 bird species live in the park, among which are the jacinta
parrot (Anodorhynchus hyacinthynus), the Turdus haplochrous, which is
endemic, and the ibis (Rhea americana).
The herpetofauna is
represented by black alligators (Melanosuchus niger), alligators (Caiman
yacare), crocodiles (Paleosuchus palpebrosus), anacondas (Eunectes
murinus), boas (Boa constrictor). Amongst the turtles there are small
turtle (Podocnemis expansa) and the traracaya (Podocnemis unifilis).
ARCHEOLOGY
The Piso Firme region has archeological sites. Additionally, in the
area of influence there are sites having great historic value such as
the colonial churches of the Jesuit Missions in the towns of San
Ignacio de Velasco, Concepcion, Guarayos, and San Javier.
Scenic Values: The
Park covers a large part of the Caparuch or Huanchaca plateau, which
is 1000 m above sea level, making the difference in height
approximately 600 m above the surrounding plains. This formation has
important habitats with great biological diversity and provides a
spectacular view.
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