Country: Bolivia
Administrative region: Sud Yungas (Province)
Central co-ordinates: 16.3308 S, 67.51786 W
Area: 124km²
Qualifying IPA Criteria
A(i)Site contains one or more globally threatened species, A(ii)Site contains one or more regionally threatened species, A(iii)Site contains one or more highly restricted endemic species that are potentially threatened, A(iv)Site contains one or more range restricted endemic species that are potentially threatened, B(iii)Site contains an exceptional number of socially, economically or culturally valuable species
IPA assessment rationale
La serranía de Apa Apa califica como una IPA por su diversidad de plantas nativas, entre endémicas, amenazadas a nivel global y de importancia socioeconómica. Presenta atributos botánicos que derivan de una variabilidad altitudinal, topográfica, climática y de bosques heterogéneos. Apa Apa alberga un total de 73 especies endémicas, de las cuales 23 se encuentran amenazadas globalmente y 13 son endémicas con una distribución restringida y potencialmente amenazadas. Dos especies adicionales son amenazadas a nivel nacional. Al número de plantas endémicas se pueden sumar otras 80 especies que actualmente son consideradas como nuevas para la ciencia (Beck et al. 2024).
Además de las especies amenazadas y endémicas de rango restringido, el sitio tiene 110 especies de plantas con importancia socioeconómica, las mismas que suman el 3,4% del total de plantas útiles documentadas para Bolivia.
Site description
La serranía de Apa Apa se encuentra en el municipio de Chulumani, provincia Sud Yungas. Apa Apa es considerada una serranía de importancia como fuente de recursos hídricos para centros poblados aledaños. El sitio IPA Apa Apa también es considerado Área Clave para la biodiversidad (KBA). Tanto los límites del sitio IPA como la KBA Reserva Ecológica de Apa-Apa coinciden.
Botanical significance
El sitio IPA Apa Apa se encuentra entre los sitios con mayor número de especies en riesgo de extinción a nivel global y al mismo tiempo con más especies endémicas. Este valor podría incrementar por lo mencionado por Beck y colaboradores (2024), con al menos 80 especies nuevas por describir. Entre las especies en riesgo de extinción y que a su vez son especies endémicas, están Capsicum ceratocalyx y Coussapoa david-smithii (EN), que tienen más del 50% de su población dentro de este sitio IPA; Mandevilla fragilis y Prestonia leco, ambas especies categorizadas como Vulnerable (VU). Del grupo de especies que califican por el criterio A, existen cuatro especies que crecen únicamente en Apa Apa: Ocotea smithii (DD), Scelochilus janeae, Stelis enervis y Tournefortia curvilimba. Estas últimas todavía están sin una evaluación formal de UICN, pero son consideradas de rango restringido en su distribución y potencialmente amenazadas.
Entre las 110 plantas útiles registradas dentro el sitio, ocho son endémicas, entre ellas Persea bilocularis (EN) y Piptadenia buchtienii (VU), ambas amenazadas a nivel global. De las especies útiles nueve son consideradas parientes silvestres de plantas cultivadas.
Habitat and geology
Apa Apa presenta una variabilidad altitudinal, topográfica y climática, con bosques heterogéneos (Beck et al. 2024). Fisiográficamente, se encuentra sobre la Cordillera Oriental, dominada por serranías (MDSyP 2002). De acuerdo con la clasificación de vegetación y los Sistemas ecológicos de Bolivia (Navarro & Ferreira 2011, Navarro 2011) y la agrupación realizada según la clasificación de hábitats de la UICN (2012), en el sitio se tiene como principal hábitat al Bosque seco y Bosque húmedo montano subtropical/tropical. El Bosque seco subtropical/tropical se conforma por Bosque semidecíduo basimontano superior de los Yungas de La Paz: serie de Cariniana estrellensis- Schinopsis brasiliensis y Bosque yungueño xérico basimontano inferior de los Yungas del Boopi: serie de Samaipaticereus inquisivensis-Schinopsis brasiliensis, mientras que el Bosque húmedo montano subtropical/tropical se conforma con el Bosque yungueño montano-inferior húmedo de los Yungas de Coroico: serie de Prumnopitys harmsiana-Weinmannia pinnata (Navarro 2011).
Debido a actividades humanas relacionadas con el cultivo de la coca (Erythroxylum coca) y el uso no controlado del fuego, es importante la cobertura de vegetación antropogénica como sabanas montanas, formaciones dominadas por helechos (chusisales), matorrales, bosques secundarios y barbechos. Se puede encontrar una clasificación a detalle de la serranía de Apa Apa en Beck y colaboradores (2024).
Conservation issues
La serranía de Apa Apa es una de las serranías dentro del municipio de Chulumani que tiene relictos de bosques bien conservados y de importancia para su conservación en Sud Yungas (Beck et al. 2024). Asimismo, la presión que existe en la zona viene de la mano de actividades como la apertura de caminos, tala y expansión de plantaciones de coca, entre otras amenazas (Beck et al. 2024).
Según Beck y colaboradores (2024), este sitio tiene un alto valor para su conservación, tanto por su riqueza botánica, alto nivel de endemismos y los servicios que presta como aprovisionamiento de agua a comunidades. Actualmente, la serranía de Apa Apa es considerada un Área Clave para la Biodiversidad (KBA 2025), lo que reafirma la importancia de su conservación, tanto para la flora como para la fauna del sitio.
Site assessor(s)
Assessed by:
Maira T. Martinez-Ugarteche, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno; Herbario del Oriente Boliviano (USZ), Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado; Department of Accelerated Taxonomy, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Alfredo F. Fuentes, Herbario Nacional de Bolivia (LPB), Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Mayor San Andrés; Latin America Department, Missouri Botanical Garden
Elmer Cuba-Orozco, Unidad de Ecología Animal y Zoología, Instituto de Ecología, Carrera de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Puras y Naturales, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés; Instituto Experimental de Biología “Luis Adam Briançon”. Facultad de Ciencias Químico Farmacéuticas
Liliana Arroyo-Herbas, Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza (FAN)
Oriana A. Lino-Villalba, Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza (FAN)
Bente B. Klitgaard, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Date of first assessment: 8th Sep 2025
Date of latest reassessment: 7th Oct 2025
IPA criterion A species
| Species | Qualifying sub-criterion | ≥ 1% of global population | ≥ 5% of national population | 1 of 5 best sites nationally | Entire global population | Socio-economically important | Abundance at site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justicia longiacuminata Rusby | A(i) |  |
|
|
 |
|
Abundant |
| Anacardiaceae Myracrodruon urundeuva M.Allemão | A(ii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Ditassa mandonii Rusby | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Mandevilla fragilis Woodson | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Prestonia leco A.Fuentes & J.F.Morales | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Xanthosoma puberulum Croat | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Dendropanax oblongifolius Rusby | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Critoniopsis yungasensis (Britton) H.Rob. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Dendrophorbium krukoffii (Cuatrec.) C.Jeffrey | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Lepidaploa beckii H.Rob. | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Tournefortia curvilimba Killip | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Tournefortia vestita Killip | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Guzmania remediosensis E.Gross | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Tillandsia engleriana Wittm. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Satyria boliviana Luteyn | A(ii), A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Cojoba beckii Barneby & J.W.Grimes | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Mimosa rusbyana Barneby & Fortunato | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Piptadenia buchtienii Barneby | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Macrocarpaea bangiana Gilg | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Symbolanthus australis Struwe | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Columnea ultraviolacea J.F.Sm. & L.E.Skog | A(ii), A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Ocotea comata van der Werff | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Ocotea smithii van der Werff | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Persea bilocularis L.E.Kopp | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Meriania boliviensis Cogn. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Miconia cinnabarina Jan.M.Burke & Michelang. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Miconia glomerulifera Cogn. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Ruagea beckii T.D.Penn. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Pseudolmedia boliviana C.C.Berg & Villav. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Scelochilus janeae Dodson & R.Vásquez | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Stelis enervis Luer | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Piper bolivianum C.DC. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Capsicum ceratocalyx M.Nee | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Lycianthes reflexa Rusby | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Solanum chalmersii S.Knapp | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Frequent |
| Cecropia elongata Rusby | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Coussapoa david-smithii C.C.Berg | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
Justicia longiacuminata Rusby
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Abundant
Anacardiaceae Myracrodruon urundeuva M.Allemão
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(ii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Ditassa mandonii Rusby
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Mandevilla fragilis Woodson
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Prestonia leco A.Fuentes & J.F.Morales
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Xanthosoma puberulum Croat
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iv)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Dendropanax oblongifolius Rusby
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Critoniopsis yungasensis (Britton) H.Rob.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Dendrophorbium krukoffii (Cuatrec.) C.Jeffrey
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Lepidaploa beckii H.Rob.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iv)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Tournefortia curvilimba Killip
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Tournefortia vestita Killip
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Guzmania remediosensis E.Gross
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Tillandsia engleriana Wittm.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Scarce
Satyria boliviana Luteyn
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(ii), A(iv)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Cojoba beckii Barneby & J.W.Grimes
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Scarce
Mimosa rusbyana Barneby & Fortunato
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Piptadenia buchtienii Barneby
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Macrocarpaea bangiana Gilg
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Scarce
Symbolanthus australis Struwe
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Scarce
Columnea ultraviolacea J.F.Sm. & L.E.Skog
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(ii), A(iv)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Ocotea comata van der Werff
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Scarce
Ocotea smithii van der Werff
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Scarce
Persea bilocularis L.E.Kopp
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Scarce
Meriania boliviensis Cogn.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Miconia cinnabarina Jan.M.Burke & Michelang.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Miconia glomerulifera Cogn.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Ruagea beckii T.D.Penn.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Pseudolmedia boliviana C.C.Berg & Villav.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Scelochilus janeae Dodson & R.Vásquez
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Stelis enervis Luer
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(iii)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Unknown
Piper bolivianum C.DC.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Scarce
Capsicum ceratocalyx M.Nee
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Lycianthes reflexa Rusby
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Solanum chalmersii S.Knapp
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Frequent
Cecropia elongata Rusby
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
Coussapoa david-smithii C.C.Berg
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Occasional
General site habitats
| General site habitat | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Forest | 65 | Major |
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest | 35 | Major |
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Forest
Percent coverage:
65
Importance:
Major
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest
Percent coverage:
35
Importance:
Major
Land use types
| Land use type | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture (arable) | 11 | Major |
| Residential / urban development | |
Minor |
| Utility & service lines | |
Major |
Agriculture (arable)
Percent coverage:
11
Importance:
Major
Residential / urban development
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Minor
Utility & service lines
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Threats
| Threat | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming | High | Ongoing - increasing |
| Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying | Medium | Ongoing - stable |
| Residential & commercial development - Housing & urban areas | Low | Future - planned activity |
| Transportation & service corridors | Medium | Ongoing - stable |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Medium | Ongoing - increasing |
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - stable
Residential & commercial development - Housing & urban areas
Severity:
Low
Timing:
Future - planned activity
Transportation & service corridors
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - stable
Human intrusions & disturbance
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Conservation designation
| Designation name | Protected area | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reserva Ecológica de Apa-Apa | Key Biodiversity Area | protected/conservation area matches IPA | 123 |
Reserva Ecológica de Apa-Apa
Protected area:
Key Biodiversity Area
Relationship with IPA:
protected/conservation area matches IPA
Areal overlap:
123
Bibliography
Clasificación de la Vegetación de Bolivia
Los bosques montanos húmedos de la serranía de Apa-Apa (Sud Yungas, La Paz, Bolivia): Un centro de diversidad de plantas y fuente esencial de agua
Ecología en Bolivia, Vol 59(2), page(s) 85-151
Key Biodiversity Areas factsheet: Apa-Apa Ecological Reserve
Mapa de Sistemas Ecológicos de Bolivia
Memoria del mapa fisiográfico de Bolivia
Recommended citation
Maira T. Martinez-Ugarteche, Alfredo F. Fuentes, Elmer Cuba-Orozco, Liliana Arroyo-Herbas, Oriana A. Lino-Villalba, Bente B. Klitgaard (2026) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: Apa Apa (Bolivia). https://tipas.kew.org/site/apa-apa/ (Accessed on 26/06/2026)