Lowland Wetlands of Bolivia: Landscapes, Conservation, and Livelihoods

Abstract

Bolivia's lowland wetlands cover a vast landscape at altitudes of 80–500 m. There are 19 wetland units—four in the “Llanos de Moxos” and four in the Pantanal—which are part of two river basins: Amazon and Paraná–Paraguay. Both lowland wetland complexes are described in terms of their climate, hydrodynamics, and biota. Emblematic species include Victoria amazonica , palms ( Mauritia flexuosa, Copernicia alba ), Pteronura brasiliensis, Inia boliviensis, Blastocerus dichotomus, Eunectes murinus , crocodiles, waterfowl, and fishes, among others. Seven protected areas cover half of the wetlands, while seven have been declared Ramsar Sites. Human occupation dates back to the early Holocene, and productive systems have been recorded. Local communities shaped the meso-relief to take advantage of natural resources and water management under seasonal regimes, and their cultures have maintained this legacy.