Country: Bolivia
Administrative region: Sud Yungas (Province)
Central co-ordinates: 16.51637 S, 67.52286 W
Area: 1209km²
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(ii)Site contains an exceptional number of species of high conservation importance, B(iii)Site contains an exceptional number of socially, economically or culturally valuable species
IPA assessment rationale
Irupana es designada como una IPA por sus atributos botánicos de especies amenazadas globalmente y restringidas, y por el número excepcional de plantas útiles. Dentro de sus límites se encuentran 20 especies amenazadas a nivel global, siete endémicas altamente restringidas, cinco endémicas de rango restringido y potencialmente amenazadas. También alberga a un total de 79 especies endémicas y 132 de importancia socioeconómica que representan el 4 % de las especies de plantas útiles documentadas para Bolivia.
Site description
El sitio IPA Irupana fue delimitado en función de los límites municipales. Se consideró dos bloques o núcleos, excluyendo el eje central del municipio debido al alto impacto antrópico que tiene. Irupana se encuentra en la provincia Sud Yungas, a 140 km de la ciudad de La Paz. Irupana se ubica en la parte central de tres sitios IPA, una de ellas también área protegida de carácter nacional (Cotapata), que junto a Irupana forman parte de un importante corredor y concentración de endemismos en Sud y Nor Yungas. El sitio Irupana abarca parte de tres Áreas Claves para la Biodiversidad (KBA): La Asunta, Río Caballuni y KBA Illimani Sur. Todas estas KBA fueron designadas por la presencia de dos especies de plantas, Syagrus yungasensis y Polylepis pacensis, ambas especies endémicas y bajo amenaza (KBA 2025).
Botanical significance
La relevancia botánica del área radica en la concentración de especies endémicas y de importancia socioeconómica, junto a especies amenazadas globalmente. Alberga un total de 20 especies en riesgo de extinción a nivel global, de las cuales 17 son endémicas de Bolivia, entre ellas, Festuca scabrifolia, Jacquemontia boliviana, Oreopanax atopanthus y Syagrus yungasensis, todas categorizadas como En Peligro (EN). En la delimitación del sitio IPA Irupana, se considera que el eje central está fuera del núcleo de la IPA por la degradación antrópica que hay sobre ese valle, pero cabe recalcar que dentro de este sector existen especies como Hippeastrum yungacense, Dioscorea irupanensis, Justicia longiacuminata y Solanum tunariense, todas en la categoría En Peligro (EN), justamente por la reducción de extensión y/o calidad de su hábitat, la pérdida de su población, entre otras amenazas. En cuanto a la riqueza excepcional de especies de importancia socioeconómica, el sitio cuenta con un total de 132 especies de plantas útiles, entre las que se destacan desde plantas amenazadas como Cedrela fissilis (VU), Polylepis lanata y Syagrus yungasensis, estas últimas consideradas En Peligro y al mismo tiempo son endémicas. Adicionalmente, entre las plantas útiles, se tienen otras 13 especies endémicas.
Habitat and geology
El paisaje principal de Irupana son serranías, las cuales se encuentran dentro de la Cordillera Oriental y el Subandino. Su geomorfología está limitada al oeste por las fallas de Coniri y San Vicente, donde se separa del Altiplano, y al este por el Cabalgamiento Frontal principal como límite con las Sierras Sudandinas (GAMI 2023). En Irupana se pueden distinguir las ecorregiones del Bosque Seco Interandino, Puna Norteña y Yungas (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 realizada en base a la clasificación de los hábitats de UICN (2012), este sitio está cubierto principalmente por el Bosque húmedo montano y el Bosque seco subtropical/tropical. El Bosque húmedo montano se conforma mayormente por bosques yungueños montano-inferior hiperhúmedo de los Yungas de Coroico y Altamachi-Corani: serie preliminar de Ocotea jelskii-Podocarpus oleifolius, mientras que el Bosque seco por el bosque semidecíduo basimontano superior de los Yungas de La Paz: serie de Cariniana estrellensis-Schinopsis brasiliensis (Navarro 2011).
Conservation issues
Irupana es un lugar especial porque contiene Puna Norteña, Yungas y Bosques Secos Interandinos, lo que le da una riqueza botánica significativa y hábitats únicos. Además, desempeña un papel crucial en la conexión con otras áreas IPA y Áreas Claves para la Biodiversidad (KBAs). La Reserva de Agua y Bosques Montañosos Serranías del Mururata es la única área protegida en el sitio, la cual está bajo la administración del municipio. Se desconoce por qué no ha sido designado como área de conservación bajo otros criterios. Sin embargo, según los subcriterios IPA, este sitio cumple con cuatro de los subcriterios y tiene un importante potencial para incrementar sus atributos botánicos. La delimitación como núcleo para este sitio IPA es un importante reservorio de vegetación aun en buen estado de conservación. Sin embargo, su eje central, actualmente transformado por las actividades antrópicas, es un área con registros históricos y poblaciones de especies endémicas que se encuentran fuertemente amenazadas y donde se puede trabajar en planes de recuperación y búsqueda de poblaciones cercanas de esas especies.
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
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: 1st Aug 2025
Date of latest reassessment: 1st 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) |  |
 |
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Hippeastrum yungacense (Cárdenas & I.S.Nelson) Meerow | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Mandevilla fragilis Woodson | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Oreopanax atopanthus Harms | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Syagrus yungasensis M.Moraes | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Ageratina acevedoi H.Rob. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Critoniopsis yungasensis (Britton) H.Rob. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Fleischmannia yungasensis (B.L.Rob.) R.M.King & H.Rob. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Hieracium tacense Hieron. | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Llerasia ledifolia (S.F.Blake) Cuatrec. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Begonia subcaudata Rusby ex L.B.Sm. & Schub. | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Puya pizarroana R.Vásquez, Ibisch & S.Beck | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Cleistocactus aurantiacus M.Lowry | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Lymanbensonia crenata (Britton) Doweld | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Calceolaria monantha Kraenzl. | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Dioscorea irupanensis R.Knuth | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Dalea carthagenensis var. pilocarpa (Rusby) Barneby | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Lupinus mandonianus C.P.Sm. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Lupinus nubilorum C.P.Sm. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Lupinus otto-buchtienii C.P.Sm. | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Mimosa rusbyana Barneby & Fortunato | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Piptadenia buchtienii Barneby | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Ocotea micrantha van der Werff | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Chaetogastra orbignyana (Naudin) P.J.F.Guim. & Michelang. | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Miconia cinnabarina Jan.M.Burke & Michelang. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Cedrela weberbaueri Harms | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Malaxis weddellii (Finet) R.Vásquez | A(iii) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Piper bolivianum C.DC. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Festuca scabrifolia Renvoize | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Polylepis lanata (Kuntze) M.Kessler & Schmidt-Leb. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
| Phoradendron kuntzei Urb. | A(iv) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
| Solanum tunariense Kuntze | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Occasional |
| Meliaceae Cedrela fissilis Vell. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Unknown |
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:
Occasional
Hippeastrum yungacense (Cárdenas & I.S.Nelson) Meerow
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
Oreopanax atopanthus 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:
Occasional
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:
Occasional
Ageratina acevedoi H.Rob.
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 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:
Unknown
Fleischmannia yungasensis (B.L.Rob.) R.M.King & 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
Hieracium tacense Hieron.
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
Llerasia ledifolia (S.F.Blake) Cuatrec.
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
Begonia subcaudata Rusby ex L.B.Sm. & Schub.
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
Puya pizarroana R.Vásquez, Ibisch & S.Beck
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
Cleistocactus aurantiacus M.Lowry
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
Lymanbensonia crenata (Britton) Doweld
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
Calceolaria monantha Kraenzl.
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
Dioscorea irupanensis R.Knuth
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
Dalea carthagenensis var. pilocarpa (Rusby) Barneby
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
Lupinus mandonianus C.P.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
Lupinus nubilorum C.P.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
Lupinus otto-buchtienii C.P.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
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
Ocotea micrantha 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:
Occasional
Chaetogastra orbignyana (Naudin) P.J.F.Guim. & Michelang.
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 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
Cedrela weberbaueri 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:
Unknown
Malaxis weddellii (Finet) 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
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
Festuca scabrifolia 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:
Scarce
Polylepis lanata (Kuntze) M.Kessler & Schmidt-Leb.
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
Phoradendron kuntzei Urb.
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
Solanum tunariense Kuntze
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
Meliaceae Cedrela fissilis Vell.
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:
Unknown
General site habitats
| General site habitat | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest | 48 | Major |
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Forest | 22 | Major |
| Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Shrubland | 17 | Major |
| Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Grassland | 13 | Major |
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest
Percent coverage:
48
Importance:
Major
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Forest
Percent coverage:
22
Importance:
Major
Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Shrubland
Percent coverage:
17
Importance:
Major
Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Grassland
Percent coverage:
13
Importance:
Major
Land use types
| Land use type | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture (pastoral) | 34 | Major |
| Agriculture (pastoral) | 3 | Minor |
| Forestry | 56 | Major |
| No use | 7 | Unknown |
Agriculture (pastoral)
Percent coverage:
34
Importance:
Major
Agriculture (pastoral)
Percent coverage:
3
Importance:
Minor
Forestry
Percent coverage:
56
Importance:
Major
No use
Percent coverage:
7
Importance:
Unknown
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 - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Medium | Ongoing - stable |
| Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Medium | Ongoing - trend unknown |
| Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying | High | Ongoing - increasing |
| Pollution - Industrial & military effluents - Seepage from mining | High | Ongoing - increasing |
| Natural system modifications - Dams & water management/use | 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 - 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:
Ongoing - trend unknown
Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Pollution - Industrial & military effluents - Seepage from mining
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Natural system modifications - Dams & water management/use
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - stable
Protected areas
| Protected area name | Protected area type | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reserva de Agua y Bosques Montañosos Serranías del Mururata | Local / Regional Nature Reserve | IPA encompasses protected/conservation area | 11 |
Reserva de Agua y Bosques Montañosos Serranías del Mururata
Protected area type:
Local / Regional Nature Reserve
Relationship with IPA:
IPA encompasses protected/conservation area
Areal overlap:
11
Conservation designation
| Designation name | Protected area | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBA La Asunta | Key Biodiversity Area | IPA encompasses protected/conservation area | 31 |
| KBA Río Caballuni | Key Biodiversity Area | IPA encompasses protected/conservation area | 181 |
| KBA Illimani Sur | Key Biodiversity Area | IPA encompasses protected/conservation area | 1 |
KBA La Asunta
Protected area:
Key Biodiversity Area
Relationship with IPA:
IPA encompasses protected/conservation area
Areal overlap:
31
KBA Río Caballuni
Protected area:
Key Biodiversity Area
Relationship with IPA:
IPA encompasses protected/conservation area
Areal overlap:
181
KBA Illimani Sur
Protected area:
Key Biodiversity Area
Relationship with IPA:
IPA encompasses protected/conservation area
Areal overlap:
1
Bibliography
Clasificación de la Vegetación de Bolivia
Plan de Desarrollo Municipal de Inquisivi
Key Biodiversity Areas factsheet: La Asunta
Mapa de Sistemas Ecológicos de Bolivia
La diversidad biológica
Biodiversidad La Riqueza de Bolivia (pub. Editorial FAN), page(s) 47-148
Habitats Classification Scheme (Version 3.1)
Recommended citation
Maira T. Martinez-Ugarteche, Elmer Cuba-Orozco, Liliana Arroyo-Herbas, Oriana A. Lino-Villalba, Bente B. Klitgaard (2026) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: Irupana (Bolivia). https://tipas.kew.org/site/irupana/ (Accessed on 12/08/2026)