Country: Bolivia
Administrative region: Sud Yungas (Province)
Central co-ordinates: 16.11472 S, 67.1909 W
Area: 2820km²
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 Asunta es un sitio IPA que cuenta con altos atributos botánicos, destacando un total de 45 taxones endémicos, de ellas 14 son altamente restringidas en su rango de distribución y 10 se encuentran amenazadas globalmente.
También alberga 102 especies de importancia socioeconómica, mismas que suman el 3,2% de plantas útiles documentadas para el país.
Site description
La Asunta se encuentra en la provincia Sud Yungas; limita principalmente al sur con el sitio IPA Irupana y al este con Caranavi. El sitio IPA y el municipio de La Asunta tienen un rango altitudinal desde los 500 a los 3.440 m (KBA 2025). La Asunta es considerada un centro de alto endemismo. Recientemente fue designada como un Área Clave para la Biodiversidad (KBA) por la presencia de la especie Syagrus yungasensis una especie de palmera conocida como coquito o ununto (KBA 2025).
Botanical significance
Un atributo importante botánico son las especies en riesgo de extinción a nivel global, de las cuales 10 son endémicas. Entre estas destacan Myrcia connata (EN), una especie que solo se conoce de este sitio y un registro en el Parque Nacional Madidi (Canteiro & Lucas 2017), y Syagrus yungasensis (EN), una palmera que tiene una distribución fragmentada y se limita a los valles secos y semihúmedos interandinos con frutos comestibles y hojas usadas eventualmente (Moraes 2021). En cuanto a las especies amenazadas a nivel nacional, están Hippeastrum mandonii (VU), Siphocampylus dubius (EN) y S. werdermannii (VU), las tres son especies de plantas endémicas. Además de este grupo de plantas amenazadas, el sitio alberga especies endémicas que no se encuentran en alguna categoría de amenaza: Clusia pachamamae, Salvia oxyphora y Luehea splendens, todas categorizadas como Casi Amenazada (NT).
El sitio también destaca por tener especies endémicas de rango restringido en su distribución y potencialmente amenazadas, y que solo se conocen de este sitio y de la muestra tipo. Entre ellas son Ascogrammitis clathrata, Hippeastrum lara-ricoi, Puya boopiensis, P. larae, Themistoclesia geniculata, todas aún sin una evaluación de riesgo de extinción según la UICN. Finalmente, están las 102 especies útiles, entre las que se pueden distinguir especies nativas, endémicas y en riesgo de extinción a nivel global y a nivel nacional.
Habitat and geology
Fisiográficamente, el sitio IPA La Asunta se encuentra sobre la Cordillera Oriental y en el Sudandino; paisajísticamente, se conforma por montañas y serranías (MDSyP 2002). La ecorregión predominante es el Bosque Seco Interandino en el área central, Yungas en las partes altas y, en menor proporción hacia el sur, Sudoeste de la Amazonía (Ibisch et al. 2003). De acuerdo con la clasificación de vegetación y los Sistemas ecológicos de Bolivia (Navarro & Ferreira 2011, Navarro 2011) y la agrupación según la clasificación de hábitats de la UICN (2012). El hábitat con mayor extensión dentro de este sitio es el Bosque húmedo montano subtropical/tropical, que se conforma por Bosque yungueño montano-inferior húmedo de los Yungas de Coroico: serie de Prumnopitys harmsiana- Weinmannia pinnata y Bosque-Palmar yungueño pluvial basimontano: serie preliminar de Protium altsonii-Dictyocaryum lamarckianum, entre otros (Navarro 2011).
Conservation issues
Junto a otros, este sitio IPA forma parte de la región de los Yungas, una región que ha sido sometida a prácticas agrícolas y al desarrollo intenso de cultivos (Moraes et al. 2009). Destacan los cultivos de coca y agrícolas, ganadería a pequeña escala, tanto que ha transformado de gran forma su paisaje (KBA 2025). Este sitio IPA, junto con otros como Irupana y Apa Apa, son propuestas de conservación dado su alto atributo botánico y por ser sitios florísticamente destacables, pero en conjunto son sitios que aún no cuentan con un nivel de protección. Actualmente, se han definido como KBA y ahora como sitios IPA; son argumentos que fortalecen y pueden lograr un reconocimiento para su protección, recuperación de hábitat y especies en esta zona.
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
Freddy S. Zenteno-Ruiz, Herbario Nacional de Bolivia (LPB), Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Mayor San Andrés
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: 2nd Sep 2025
Date of latest reassessment: 3rd Nov 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 beckii Wassh. & J.R.I.Wood | A(i) |  |
 |
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Justicia yungensis Wassh. & J.R.I.Wood | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Stenostephanus krukoffii Wassh. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Hippeastrum lara-ricoi A.L.Moya, D.Villalba & Zent.-Ruíz | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Prestonia leco A.Fuentes & J.F.Morales | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Syagrus yungasensis M.Moraes | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Frequent |
| Asplenium tunquiniense M.Kessler & A.R.Sm. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Critoniopsis jubifera (Rusby) H.Rob. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Frequent |
| Puya boopiensis R.Vásquez, Ibisch & R.Lara | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Puya larae R.Vásquez & Ibisch | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Tillandsia mecapacana Seringer, Barfuss & W.Till | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Pfeiffera miyagawae Barthlott & Rauh | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Siphocampylus dubius Zahlbr. | A(ii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Siphocampylus werdermannii E.Wimm. | A(ii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Valeriana weddelliana Rouy | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Themistoclesia geniculata Pedraza | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Themistoclesia peruviana A.C.Sm. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Calliandra chulumania Barneby | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Mimosa rusbyana Barneby & Fortunato | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Piptadenia buchtienii Barneby | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Chaetogastra panicularis Naudin | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Miconia multiflora Cogn. ex Britton | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Myrcia connata McVaugh | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Telipogon cotapatensis I.Jiménez | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Peperomia rhombifolia Trel. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Grammitis clathrata (Sundue & M.Kessler) Christenh. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Grammitis longicaulis (Sundue & M.Kessler) Christenh. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Dendrophthora erythrantha Kuijt | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Capsicum ceratocalyx M.Nee | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Symplocos hiemalis Lingelsh. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
Justicia beckii Wassh. & J.R.I.Wood
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
Justicia yungensis Wassh. & J.R.I.Wood
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
Stenostephanus krukoffii Wassh.
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
Hippeastrum lara-ricoi A.L.Moya, D.Villalba & Zent.-Ruíz
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
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:
Scarce
Syagrus yungasensis M.Moraes
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
Asplenium tunquiniense M.Kessler & A.R.Sm.
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
Critoniopsis jubifera (Rusby) 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:
Frequent
Puya boopiensis R.Vásquez, Ibisch & R.Lara
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
Puya larae R.Vásquez & Ibisch
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 mecapacana Seringer, Barfuss & W.Till
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
Pfeiffera miyagawae Barthlott & Rauh
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
Siphocampylus dubius Zahlbr.
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
Siphocampylus werdermannii E.Wimm.
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
Valeriana weddelliana Rouy
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
Themistoclesia geniculata Pedraza
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
Themistoclesia peruviana A.C.Sm.
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
Calliandra chulumania 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
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:
Scarce
Chaetogastra panicularis Naudin
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
Miconia multiflora Cogn. ex Britton
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
Myrcia connata McVaugh
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
Telipogon cotapatensis I.Jiménez
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
Peperomia rhombifolia Trel.
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
Grammitis clathrata (Sundue & M.Kessler) Christenh.
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
Grammitis longicaulis (Sundue & M.Kessler) Christenh.
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
Dendrophthora erythrantha Kuijt
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
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
Symplocos hiemalis Lingelsh.
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 Moist Montane Forest | 45 | Major |
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest | 33 | Major |
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Forest | 23 | Major |
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest
Percent coverage:
45
Importance:
Major
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest
Percent coverage:
33
Importance:
Major
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Forest
Percent coverage:
23
Importance:
Major
Land use types
| Land use type | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture (arable) | 6 | Major |
| Residential / urban development | |
Minor |
| Utility & service lines | |
Minor |
Agriculture (arable)
Percent coverage:
6
Importance:
Major
Residential / urban development
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Minor
Utility & service lines
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Minor
Threats
| Threat | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming | High | Ongoing - stable |
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Medium | Ongoing - stable |
| Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Medium | Past, likely to return |
| Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying | Medium | Ongoing - trend unknown |
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops | High | Ongoing - increasing |
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - stable
Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - stable
Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Past, likely to return
Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - trend unknown
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Conservation designation
| Designation name | Protected area | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBA La Asunta | Key Biodiversity Area | protected/conservation area matches IPA | 913 |
KBA La Asunta
Protected area:
Key Biodiversity Area
Relationship with IPA:
protected/conservation area matches IPA
Areal overlap:
913
Bibliography
Clasificación de la Vegetación de Bolivia
Key Biodiversity Areas factsheet: La Asunta
Guía de plantas útiles del Municipio de La Asunta (Sud Yungas, La Paz, Bolivia)
Mapa de Sistemas Ecológicos de Bolivia
La diversidad biológica
Biodiversidad La Riqueza de Bolivia (pub. Editorial FAN), page(s) 47-148
Memoria del mapa fisiográfico de Bolivia
Habitats Classification Scheme (Version 3.1)
Myrcia connata
Recommended citation
Maira T. Martinez-Ugarteche, Freddy S. Zenteno-Ruiz, Elmer Cuba-Orozco, Liliana Arroyo-Herbas, Oriana A. Lino-Villalba, Bente B. Klitgaard (2026) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: La Asunta (Bolivia). https://tipas.kew.org/site/la-asunta/ (Accessed on 25/08/2026)