Country: Bolivia
Administrative region: Campero (Province)
Central co-ordinates: 18.39192 S, 64.60185 W
Area: 2394km²
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
Pasorapa es un sitio IPA con una importante diversidad vegetal, entre especies endémicas, de importancia socioeconómica y amenazadas a nivel global. Forma parte de los Valles Secos Interandinos, un conjunto de bosques y matorrales xéricos que tienen un alto nivel de endemismo.
Los atributos botánicos de Pasorapa son sus 50 especies endémicas de Bolivia, 19 amenazadas a nivel global, seis endémicas altamente restringidas y potencialmente amenazadas. También cuenta con 150 especies de importancia socioeconómica, que representan el 4,6% de las plantas útiles documentadas para el país.
Site description
El límite del sitio IPA está basado en los límites municipales de Pasorapa. Se ubica en la parte central de Bolivia, en la provincia Campero, departamento de Cochabamba. Limita con los departamentos de Santa Cruz (con Saipina y Vallegrande) y Chuquisaca (con Presto y Villa Mojocoya). El sitio IPA Pasorapa tiene el 70% de su territorio dentro del Área Natural de Manejo Integrado Pasorapa, creada en 2010 como un área protegida municipal.
Botanical significance
La ubicación y atributos de Pasorapa destacan en un entorno con gran diversidad vegetal. Entre las especies que se encuentran en este lugar está Baccharis woodii (EN), un subarbusto que se desarrolla en valles profundos, secos, pendientes rocosas cubiertas de bosques secos o matorrales (Müller 2006). Bonamia riograndina e Ipomoea juliagutierreziae son otras dos especies y están categorizadas como En Peligro (EN). Estas especies tienen en común el desarrollo en zonas con matorrales xerófilos y bosques secos, suelos rocosos, y crecen en el valle del río Grande, un centro importante de especies endémicas (Wood et al. 2015). También crecen Aspidosperma resonans (VU), Piptadenia boliviana (VU), Pseudosenegalia riograndensis (EN) y Pseudobombax andicola (VU). Todos ellos son árboles característicos y endémicos de los valles secos y, en algunos casos útiles: A. resonans, un árbol utilizado para construir charangos (Wood 2005), P. boliviana y P. andicola plantas forrajeras moderada y ocasionalmente consumidas en la época de invierno y seca (De la Barra & Navarro 2021). Adicionalmente, en el sitio se tienen especies de rango restringido como Aristolochia stevechurchillii, especie no evaluada y que, junto a otras endémicas, suman un total de 44 especies endémicas en Pasorapa.
En cuanto a las 150 especies útiles que Pasorapa registra, destacan 16 especies endémicas. En el municipio de Pasorapa, una de las principales actividades económicas es la cría de ganado bovino, ovino y caprino, la cual se desarrolla de manera extensiva, por lo que las especies nativas son el principal recurso forrajero. Recientemente, se han identificado más de 190 especies forrajeras para este municipio y municipios aledaños como Omereque y Aiquile (De la Barra & Navarro 2021).
Habitat and geology
Según Ibisch et al. (2003), en Pasorapa convergen dos ecorregiones, el Bosque Seco Interandino y el Chaco Serrano, y fisiográficamente forma parte de la Cordillera Oriental. Pasorapa es parte de los Valles Secos Interandinos o Bosques Secos Interandinos, un conjunto de bosques secos, chaparrales, matorrales, constituidos por mesetas, colinas y valles, que se caracterizan por sus ambientes xéricos, suelos rocosos y gran parte de las especies arbóreas pierden sus hojas en la época seca (Beck et al. 1993, Ibisch et al. 2003, Wood 2005, Beck 2014).
De acuerdo con la clasificación de vegetación y los Sistemas ecológicos de Bolivia (Navarro & Ferreira 2011, Navarro 2011) y la agrupación realizada en base a la clasificación de los hábitats de UICN, este sitio está cubierto principalmente por el Bosque seco subtropical/tropical. Este bosque seco se conforma por bosque seco interandino de Mara Valluna y Soto: serie de Cardenasiodendron brachypterum-Schinopsis haenkeana y el bosque semiárido interandino de Caraparí y Soto: serie de Neocardenasia herzogiana-Schinopsis haenkeana (Navarro 2011).
Conservation issues
El 70% del territorio del municipio de Pasorapa se encuentra dentro del Área Natural de Manejo Integrado (ANMI) Pasorapa, un área protegida municipal, que como parte de su categorización compatibiliza la conservación con el desarrollo sostenible de la población local. El ANMI Pasorapa forma parte de un corredor junto a la Unidad de Conservación del Patrimonio Natural Río Grande Valles Cruceños en Santa Cruz y El Palmar en Chuquisaca. Así mismo, entre estas tres áreas protegidas y sitios IPA y Nuevo Mundo (Chuquisaca), se encuentra un importante centro de endemismo, entre el río Grande y el río Mizque.
Por otro lado, Pasorapa, junto a otros municipios cercanos, tiene como principal actividad económica a la agricultura y ganadería, esta última de tipo extensiva. Ambas actividades se desarrollan principalmente en los fondos de valles y se implementan desde hace décadas. La zona es un importante centro de conservación, no solo para la flora, sino también para especies de aves que se sitúan en categorías de amenazas que deben sumarse al desarrollo de estrategias de conservación.
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
John R.I. Wood, Department of Accelerated Taxonomy, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew; Department of Biology, University of Oxford
Margoth Atahuachi, Herbario Forestal M. Cárdenas (BOLV)-Centro de Biodiversidad y Genética, Universidad Mayor de San Simón
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: 23rd Nov 2023
Date of latest reassessment: 24th Sep 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 aequilabris subsp. riograndina Wassh. & J.R.I.Wood | A(iv) |  |
|
 |
|
|
Occasional |
| Gomphrena stellata T.Ortuño & Borsch | A(ii), A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Aspidosperma resonans H.J.Will. & Goyder | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Funastrum rupicola Goyder | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Philibertia velutina Goyder | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Aristolochia stevechurchillii F.González & Pabón-Mora | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Aldama emaciata (H.Rob. & A.J.Moore) E.E.Schill. & Panero | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Baccharis woodii Joch.Müll. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Gochnatia boliviana S.F.Blake | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Tecoma beckii J.R.I.Wood | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Deuterocohnia scapigera (Rauh & L.Hrom.) M.A.Spencer & L.B.Sm. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Tillandsia comarapaensis H.Luther | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Tillandsia koehresiana Ehlers | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Weingartia cardenasiana (R.Vásquez) F.H.Brandt | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Bonamia riograndina J.R.I.Wood | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Ipomoea juliagutierreziae J.R.I.Wood & Scotland | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Ipomoea lilloana O'Donell | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Croton curculiospermus Riina | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Myrocarpus emarginatus A.L.B.Sartori & A.M.G.Azevedo | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Piptadenia boliviana Benth. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Pseudosenegalia riograndensis (Atahuachi & L.Rico) Seigler & Ebinger | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Fuertesimalva woodii Krapov. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Malvastrum trifidum Krapov. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Pseudobombax andicola A.Robyns | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Sida gracilipes Rusby | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Wissadula cruziana R.E.Fr. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Palicourea herzogii Standl. | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Brugmansia arborea (L.) Sweet | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
Justicia aequilabris subsp. riograndina Wassh. & J.R.I.Wood
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
Gomphrena stellata T.Ortuño & Borsch
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:
Scarce
Aspidosperma resonans H.J.Will. & Goyder
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
Funastrum rupicola Goyder
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:
Scarce
Philibertia velutina Goyder
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
Aristolochia stevechurchillii F.González & Pabón-Mora
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
Aldama emaciata (H.Rob. & A.J.Moore) E.E.Schill. & Panero
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
Baccharis woodii Joch.Müll.
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
Gochnatia boliviana S.F.Blake
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
Tecoma beckii J.R.I.Wood
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
Deuterocohnia scapigera (Rauh & L.Hrom.) M.A.Spencer & L.B.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
Tillandsia comarapaensis H.Luther
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
Tillandsia koehresiana Ehlers
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
Weingartia cardenasiana (R.Vásquez) F.H.Brandt
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:
Occasional
Bonamia riograndina 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
Ipomoea juliagutierreziae J.R.I.Wood & Scotland
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
Ipomoea lilloana O'Donell
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
Croton curculiospermus Riina
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:
Occasional
Myrocarpus emarginatus A.L.B.Sartori & A.M.G.Azevedo
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 boliviana Benth.
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
Pseudosenegalia riograndensis (Atahuachi & L.Rico) Seigler & Ebinger
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
Fuertesimalva woodii Krapov.
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
Malvastrum trifidum Krapov.
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
Pseudobombax andicola A.Robyns
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
Sida gracilipes 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
Wissadula cruziana R.E.Fr.
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
Palicourea herzogii Standl.
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
Brugmansia arborea (L.) Sweet
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 | 100 | Major |
| Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Shrubland | |
Major |
| Other | |
Minor |
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Forest
Percent coverage:
100
Importance:
Major
Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Shrubland
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Other
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Minor
Land use types
| Land use type | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Nature conservation | 70 | Major |
| Agriculture (arable) | |
Major |
| Agriculture (pastoral) | |
Major |
| Residential / urban development | |
Minor |
Nature conservation
Percent coverage:
70
Importance:
Major
Agriculture (arable)
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Agriculture (pastoral)
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Residential / urban development
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Minor
Threats
| Threat | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development - Housing & urban areas | Medium | Ongoing - stable |
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops | High | Ongoing - stable |
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Nomadic grazing | High | Ongoing - stable |
Residential & commercial development - Housing & urban areas
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - stable
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - stable
Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Nomadic grazing
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - stable
Protected areas
| Protected area name | Protected area type | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANMI Pasorapa | Local / Regional Nature Reserve | IPA encompasses protected/conservation area | 1780 |
ANMI Pasorapa
Protected area type:
Local / Regional Nature Reserve
Relationship with IPA:
IPA encompasses protected/conservation area
Areal overlap:
1780
Bibliography
Clasificación de la Vegetación de Bolivia
Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) in Bolivia
Kew Bulletin, Vol 70(31), page(s) 1-124
Vegetación de Bolivia
Guía de Árboles de Bolivia (pub. Herbario Nacional de Bolivia y Missouri Botanical Garden), page(s) 958
Guía de campo ilustrada de especies forrajeras nativas de los Municipios de Pasorapa, Aiquile y Omereque
Systematics of Baccharis (Compositae-Asteraceae) in Bolivia, including an Overview of the Genus
Systematic Botany Monographs, Vol 76, page(s) 1-341
Mapa de Sistemas Ecológicos de Bolivia
Las regiones y zonas de vegetación
Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de Bolivia (pub. Missouri Botanical Garden Press), page(s) 3-20
La diversidad biológica
Biodiversidad La Riqueza de Bolivia (pub. Editorial FAN), page(s) 47-148
La Guía “Darwin” de las Flores de los Valles Bolivianos
Recommended citation
Maira T. Martinez-Ugarteche, John R.I. Wood, Margoth Atahuachi, Liliana Arroyo-Herbas, Oriana A. Lino-Villalba, Bente B. Klitgaard (2026) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: Pasorapa (Bolivia). https://tipas.kew.org/site/pasorapa/ (Accessed on 24/08/2026)