Biodiversity of Bolivia
Bolivia is a mega-diverse country. Not only its population is multi-ethnic but also the biodiversity of Bolivia is amazingly rich.
Bolivia is one of the most biological diverse countries of the world, maintaining vast, intact humid and dry forest ecosystems. The country’s location in the tropics combined with dramatic variations in topography and climate result in a wide range of ecosystems—from the spectacular mountain landscapes of the Andes to the rainforests of the Amazon to the unusual dry forests of the Chaco. Over 17% of Bolivia’s territory is listed as protected area.
According to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Bolivia is one of the top 15 countries in the world with the greatest biological wealth: it occupies the 11th place for its floristic richness, the 3rd for the abundance of its butterflies and the 6th for its diversity of birds.
Biodiversity, the diversity of life on Earth, is essential to the healthy functioning of ecosystems. The biodiversity of Bolivia and the rest of the planet is vital to all life on Earth, including ours.
In December 2020 CNN published an article on 20 new species that were found in Bolivia. The findings were made on a 14-day scientific expedition back in March 2017 in the Zongo valley. This area has become a safe haven for amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, and plants that have not been found anywhere on Earth.
Some of the highlights of the expedition are: the mountain fer-de-lance viper, the Bolivian flag snake (that earned its name from its striking red, yellow and green, the three colors matching the ones present on the Bolivian flag, very patriotic) and the lilliputian frog (one of the smallest amphibians of the world, with a size of almost 1 cm), as well as new beautiful orchids and butterfly species.
Apart from identifying new species, 4 species that were thought to be extinct have been rediscovered, such as the devil-eyed frog and the satyr butterfly (last seen 98 years ago!).
The WCS called Madidi National Park (north east of La Paz) the world’s most biodiverse national park, with more than 8.000 species! 11% of the world’s bird species live in the park. Madidi’s diverse life also includes more than 200 species of mammals and 300 types of fish.
Madidi with only 1.8 million hectares (some 4.5 million acres) in size – which accounts for 0.0037 percent of Earth’s surface – it is home to as many as 3 % of all plants and almost 4 % of all vertebrates, according to Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) figures.
The Madidi National Park is composed of snow-capped mountains, glaciers, high Andean lagoons, deep valleys and canyons, cliffs, torrid rivers and waterfalls – all in an area about the size of New Jersey, all adding up to make up some of the most stunning scenery you will ever see. Madidi N.P is accessible from the village of Rurrenabaque. You can reach Rurrenabaque over land or by airplane via La Paz.
The Chalalan ecolodge is a project run by an indigenous community and is located in the Madidi National Park. This is a great trip for those looking for a nature trip and supporting an indigenous community at the same time!
For more price info on the Chalalan Lodge or any other trip in Bolivia please contact us.
Other tours from Rurrenabaque to Madidi National Park are: Madidi Jungle Lodge, Sadiri lodge and Caracoles Lodge.
