Conservation International Celebrates New Protected Area in Northern Bolivia

The new created protected area El Gran Manupare consolidates a conservation mosaic spanning almost 10 million hectares in the Bolivian Amazon

PANDO, Bolivia (Feb. 1, 2024) – Conservation International celebrates the designation of El Gran Manupare Integrated Management Natural Area announced by the Municipality of Sena, in Pando, Bolivia. This vast forest safeguards 9.2 million tons of irrecoverable carbon and holds significant biodiversity and economic value. 

The new protected area covers 452,639 hectares, representing almost 8% of Pando's forests and has significantly increased the region's conservation coverage to 26%.

With more than 6 million hectares of Amazonian Forest, Pando is home to the largest proportion of well-preserved Amazonian Forest in the country and its municipalities have set the goal of building a green, sustainable, and resilient region. The establishment of El Gran Manupare aligns with this goal and received support from Conservation International-Bolivia and the Association of Municipalities of Pando (AMDEPANDO, for its acronym in Spanish).

Jaime Aguirre, Mayor of the Municipality of Sena, stated: "As a municipality, as peasant and Indigenous communities, we consider it important to conserve our forests for future generations, safeguard our territory, and contribute to the sustainability of our projects. It is important to conserve Pando."

In addition, the newly protected area links Manuripi National Amazon Wildlife Reserve in Pando and the Municipal Area of Conservation and Management of Bajo Madidi, recently created with the support of Conservation International, consolidating a 10 million-hectare conservation mosaic in the Bolivian Amazon. This connectivity allows the population flow of numerous species and plays a significant ecological role in the structure and functioning of the Amazon Forest.

The rich biodiversity of this new area is highlighted by the presence of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) and the big-leave mahogany (Switenia macrophila), both endangered species according to IUCN. Enhancing its ecological significance are healthy populations of animals like mammals, the jaguar (Panthera onca), the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), and the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), and several vulnerable species such as the blue-headed macaw (Primolius couloni) and the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus).

"It's an incredible conservation story that began in the 1990s with the creation of the Madidi National Park and has continued over the years. It's a combination of having a clear objective and consistently seeking opportunities to add new pieces to the puzzle. Protected and conserved areas remain one of the most important tools for conservation, with enormous potential to guard against loss of wildlife and stave off the worst consequences of climate change," said Eduardo Forno, vice president of Conservation International-Bolivia.

The initiative carried out by the Municipal Government of El Sena, backed by Conservation International-Bolivia, represents a significant milestone in the worldwide efforts to protect biodiversity and environmental sustainability. Financially, the initiative is supported by the project 'Our Future Forests - Vital Reserves' in partnership with the French Ministry of Economics and Finance and the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), the Embassy of Sweden, and the Andes Amazon Fund.

The following species can be found in the El Gran Manupare Area and are listed as either endangered (EN) or vulnerable (VU) by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature:

• Trees like big-leave mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) (EN)
• Mamals like giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) (EN), jaguar (Panthera onca) (VU)
• White-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) (VU), the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) (VU) and the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) (VU)
• Birds like the blue-headed macaw (Primolius couloni) (VU) 
  

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Protected Area legal name: Área Natural de Manejo Integrado El Gran Manupare.

Area: 452,639 hectares.

Geographic location: Northern Bolivia, Pando Department, Madre de Dios Province, Sena Municipality. Connects with the Manuripi National Amazonian Wildlife Reserve in Pando and the Bajo Madidi Municipal Conservation and Management Area in the department of La Paz.

Population: 56 communities officially appear as part of the Conservation Area, which represents 39% of the inhabitants of the municipality of Sena.

Ecosystem services: Climate regulation, soil protection, maintenance of the hydrological system, and preservation of a representative sample of Amazonian biodiversity.

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About Conservation International: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Go to Conservation.org for more, and follow our work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.