Wetlands of Mountain Regions of Bolivia

Abstract

Andean mountain wetlands are ecosystems found in the semiarid and arid Bolivian Andes between 3500 and 5000 m a.s.l. They are characterized by the presence of unique and distinctive plant communities adapted to extreme environmental conditions, including large daily temperature variations, night frosting, and exposure to high levels of UV light. Indigenous communities rely heavily on mountain wetlands, and they have developed a suite of strategies to maintain and expand peatlands over generations. Despite major efforts to document the flora and fauna associated with these ecosystems during the past decades, global warming and land-use intensification constitute major threats to the stability of these ecosystems. Conservation programs should include the active participation of local indigenous communities to develop new strategies for conservation planning in the light of climate change.