Country: Bolivia
Administrative region: Larecaja (Province)
Central co-ordinates: 15.868 S, 67.98765 W
Area: 1110km²
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
Uno de los argumentos para que Guanay sea designado como una IPA, es el buen estado de conservación que tienen sus bosques, ya que se considera que el 80% de sus bosques del Área Natural de Manejo Integrado (ANMI) Guanay están intactos (Conservación Internacional 2021). Dentro de estos bosques habitan especies amenazadas globalmente, endémicas de rango restringido y potencialmente amenazadas, y las plantas de importancia socioeconómica. Guanay tiene 17 especies que están amenazadas a nivel global, tres especies amenazadas a nivel nacional y un total de 19 especies endémicas con rango restringido y potencialmente amenazadas.
A la vez, el sitio cuenta con 204 especies de importancia socioeconómica, que constituyen el 6,2% del total de las plantas útiles documentadas en todo el país. Respecto a las especies endémicas, el sitio tiene un total de 57 especies endémicas, tanto amenazadas, de rango restringido o que no tienen una evaluación de UICN.
Site description
El sitio IPA Guanay se sobrepone con el límite del Área Natural de Manejo Integrado (ANMI) Guanay, el mismo que abarca el 32% del municipio homónimo, que se encuentra en la provincia Larecaja. Guanay tiene un rango altitudinal desde los 600 hasta los 4.354 m de altitud. Tiene un clima muy variable, desde un clima cálido de tierras bajas al noreste hasta un clima frío de alta montaña al suroeste del municipio. La precipitación media anual se estima entre los 780 y 1.200 mm, dependiendo de la elevación (Cuba 2021).
Botanical significance
Tal como se indica anteriormente, el sitio IPA Guanay tiene un amplio gradiente altitudinal y con ello un paisaje y hábitat con alta diversidad vegetal. Una muestra de ello es su importante número de especies endémicas de rango restringido en su distribución y su diversidad vegetal documentada recientemente a partir de inventarios florísticos en algunas zonas (MBG-BO 2025). Especies como Elleanthus yungasensis, Pelexia yungasensis y Stelis brittoniana, restringidas y conocidas únicamente de este sitio IPA. El sitio también tiene un importante número de especies amenazadas globalmente. Entre ellas Aulonemia boliviana (EN), un bambú endémico que crece en bosques húmedos yungueños (Renvoize 1998). Otra especie es Oreopanax ilicifolius (EN), que tiene más del 50% de su población dentro de este sitio IPA y también se desarrolla en bosques yungueños de Polylepis. Solanum macbridei (VU) es otra especie nativa, compartida con Perú, pero que crece en la zona con mayor elevación, en los pastizales húmedos de la Puna húmeda (Knaap 2013). Guanay también se destaca por el alto número de especies de importancia socioeconómica que concentra, sumando un total de 204 o el 6,2% de las especies documentadas como plantas útiles para el país. Uno de los géneros que destaca por su número de especies útiles es Solanum, con un total de 10.
Habitat and geology
Fisiográficamente, Guanay se ubica en la Cordillera Oriental, dominada por montañas y serranías, e incluye a las ecorregiones Puna Norteña y Yungas (Ibisch et al. 2003). Debido a la existencia de un amplio rango altitudinal y de una orografía compleja, el sitio incluye una gran variedad de tipos de vegetación, desde bosques amazónicos y bosques secos en las partes bajas, pasando por bosques estacionales húmedos, bosques basimontanos, montanos y altimontanos pluviales, bosques de Polylepis, hasta pajonales altoandinos de la Puna húmeda en las partes más altas (Navarro & Ferreira 2007).
De acuerdo con la clasificación de vegetación y los Sistemas ecológicos de Bolivia (Navarro & Ferreira 2011, Navarro 2011) y agrupación según la clasificación de hábitats de la UICN (2012), el hábitat con mayor extensión dentro del sitio IPA es el denominado Bosque húmedo montano subtropical/tropical. El cual se conforma por bosques altimontanos, bosques yunguenos altoandinos, entre otros (Navarro 2011).
Conservation issues
El Área Natural de Manejo Integrado (ANMI) Guanay fue creada en el año 2021, con el propósito de conservar sus ecosistemas de bosques montanos, su diversidad biológica, proteger sus cabeceras hídricas y mantener una conectividad para la protección de sus bosques y biodiversidad (Conservación Internacional 2021). Guanay también es considerada una KBA y forma parte del corredor prioritario Madidi-Pilón Lajas-Cotapata (Conservación Internacional 2021). Ahora, mostrando todos sus atributos botánicos, su alto número de especies endémicas, de especies en riesgo de extinción y plantas de importancia socioeconómica que alberga, y el buen estado de conservación de la mayor parte de sus ecosistemas.
Guanay representa un importante sitio de conservación y, sobre todo, de gestión para efectivizar y mejorar su manejo como área protegida. Aunque su administración y creación es impulsada por el municipio de Guanay, ampliar y fortalecer su conservación logrará una mayor efectividad para la biodiversidad.
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: 3rd Sep 2025
Date of latest reassessment: 30th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruellia haenkeana f. lutea Wassh. & J.R.I.Wood | A(iii) |  |
|
 |
|
|
Unknown |
| Hydrocotyle pseudoboliviana M.Mend. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Oreopanax ilicifolius Marchal | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Oreopanax thaumasiophyllus Harms | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Frequent |
| Critoniopsis jubifera (Rusby) H.Rob. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Centropogon bangii Zahlbr. | A(ii), A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Centropogon gloriosus (Britton) Zahlbr. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Hedyosmum maximum (Kuntze) K.Schum. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Weinmannia bangii (Rusby) Engl. | A(ii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Diogenesia racemosa (Herzog) Sleumer | A(ii), A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Rusbya taxifolia Britton | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Symbolanthus australis Struwe | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Persea bilocularis L.E.Kopp | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Meriania boliviensis Cogn. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Miconia amissa Wurdack | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Miconia biacuta Cogn. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Miconia neei Jan.M.Burke & Michelang. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Miconia yungasensis R.Goldenb. & Michelang. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Pseudolmedia boliviana C.C.Berg & Villav. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Dichaea hamata Rolfe ex Stapf | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Elleanthus yungasensis Rolfe ex Rusby | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Masdevallia exquisita Luer & Hirtz | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Pelexia yungasensis (Rolfe) Schltr. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Stelis brittoniana Rolfe | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Oxalis yungasensis Rusby | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Ternstroemia polyandra Kobuski | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Peperomia nudicaulis C.DC. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Piper bolivianum C.DC. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Aulonemia boliviana Renvoize | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Merostachys nigricans I.Jiménez & Viníc.-Silva | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Grammitis contacta (Copel.) Christenh. | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Grammitis praeceps (Sundue & M.Kessler) Christenh. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Coussarea boliviensis C.M.Taylor | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Sabicea boliviensis Wernham | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Solanum macbridei Hunz. & Lallana | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Symplocos debilis B.Ståhl | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
Ruellia haenkeana f. lutea Wassh. & J.R.I.Wood
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
Hydrocotyle pseudoboliviana M.Mend.
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
Oreopanax ilicifolius Marchal
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
Oreopanax thaumasiophyllus Harms
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
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:
Occasional
Centropogon bangii Zahlbr.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(ii), 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
Centropogon gloriosus (Britton) Zahlbr.
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
Hedyosmum maximum (Kuntze) K.Schum.
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
Weinmannia bangii (Rusby) Engl.
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
Diogenesia racemosa (Herzog) Sleumer
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
Rusbya taxifolia Britton
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
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:
Occasional
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:
Occasional
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:
Scarce
Miconia amissa Wurdack
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:
Occasional
Miconia biacuta 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 neei 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 yungasensis R.Goldenb. & Michelang.
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
Dichaea hamata Rolfe ex Stapf
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
Elleanthus yungasensis Rolfe ex Rusby
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
Masdevallia exquisita Luer & Hirtz
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
Pelexia yungasensis (Rolfe) Schltr.
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 brittoniana Rolfe
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
Oxalis yungasensis Rusby
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
Ternstroemia polyandra Kobuski
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
Peperomia nudicaulis C.DC.
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
Aulonemia boliviana Renvoize
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
Merostachys nigricans I.Jiménez & Viníc.-Silva
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
Grammitis contacta (Copel.) Christenh.
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
Grammitis praeceps (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
Coussarea boliviensis C.M.Taylor
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
Sabicea boliviensis Wernham
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
Solanum macbridei Hunz. & Lallana
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 debilis B.Ståhl
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 | 65 | Major |
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest | 34 | Major |
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Forest | 1 | Major |
| Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Grassland | |
Major |
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest
Percent coverage:
65
Importance:
Major
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest
Percent coverage:
34
Importance:
Major
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Forest
Percent coverage:
1
Importance:
Major
Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Grassland
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Land use types
| Land use type | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Nature conservation | 100 | Major |
| Agriculture (arable) | 6 | Major |
| Agriculture (pastoral) | |
Major |
| Residential / urban development | 1 | Minor |
| Forestry | |
Minor |
| Tourism / Recreation | |
Major |
Nature conservation
Percent coverage:
100
Importance:
Major
Agriculture (arable)
Percent coverage:
6
Importance:
Major
Agriculture (pastoral)
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Residential / urban development
Percent coverage:
1
Importance:
Minor
Forestry
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Minor
Tourism / Recreation
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Threats
| Threat | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming | Medium | Ongoing - stable |
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Medium | Ongoing - stable |
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Marine & freshwater aquaculture - Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture | Medium | Ongoing - trend unknown |
| Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying | High | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - stable
Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - stable
Agriculture & aquaculture - Marine & freshwater aquaculture - Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - trend unknown
Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - trend unknown
Protected areas
| Protected area name | Protected area type | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANMI Guanay | Local / Regional Nature Reserve | protected/conservation area matches IPA | 1110 |
ANMI Guanay
Protected area type:
Local / Regional Nature Reserve
Relationship with IPA:
protected/conservation area matches IPA
Areal overlap:
1110
Conservation designation
| Designation name | Protected area | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBA Guanay | Key Biodiversity Area | protected/conservation area matches IPA | 1106 |
KBA Guanay
Protected area:
Key Biodiversity Area
Relationship with IPA:
protected/conservation area matches IPA
Areal overlap:
1106
Bibliography
Clasificación de la Vegetación de Bolivia
Área Natural de Manejo Integrado Guanay, Conservando el bosque nublado y montano para garantizar el agua, la vida y el bienestar de la gente
Gobierno Autónomo Municipal de Guanay
A revision of the Dulcamaroid Clade of Solanum L. (Solanaceae)
PhytoKeys, Vol 22, page(s) 1-432
Inventario florístico preliminar de los bosques montanos húmedos del Área Protegida Municipal de Guanay, sector San Juan de Challana
Mapa de Sistemas Ecológicos de Bolivia
Mapa de Vegetación de Bolivia, escala 1: 250 000
Gramíneas de Bolivia. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Habitats Classification Scheme (Version 3.1)
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: Guanay (Bolivia). https://tipas.kew.org/site/guanay/ (Accessed on 26/08/2026)