Difference between revisions of "Noel Kempff Mercado National Park" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
| − | The Noel Kempff Mercado National Park spans 5,880 square miles (15,234 km²) in northeastern [[Bolivia]] on the border with [[Brazil]]. Bolivia is known for its diversity in [[climate]], [[fauna]], and [[flora]]. In the area of Santa Cruz de la Sierra the weather is very humid and warm. The normal temperature is between 25 and 29°C. The [[rain|rainfall]] is | + | The Noel Kempff Mercado National Park spans 5,880 square miles (15,234 km²) in northeastern [[Bolivia]] on the border with [[Brazil]]. Bolivia is known for its diversity in [[climate]], [[fauna]], and [[flora]]. In the area of Santa Cruz de la Sierra the weather is very humid and warm. The normal temperature is between 25 and 29°C. The [[rain|rainfall]] is roughly 1,500 mm annually. |
| − | The site contains an array of habitat types including evergreen | + | The site contains an array of habitat types including [[evergreen]] [[rainforest]]s, [[palm]] [[forest]]s, ''cerrado'', [[swamp]]s, [[savanna]]s, gallery forests, and semi-deciduous dry forests. |
| − | + | The ''cerrado'' ([[English language|English]]: "closed" or "inaccessible") is a vast tropical [[savanna]]. The cerrado habitats found on the Huanchaca Meseta have been isolated for millions of years and thus contain a high diversity of [[plant]] and [[animal]] [[species]], including viable populations of many globally threatened large [[vertebrate]]s. | |
| − | Gallery forests are | + | The ''cerrado'' landscape is crossed by gallery forests and stream valleys. Gallery forests are evergreen forests that form as corridors along [[river]]s or [[wetland]]s and project into landscapes that are otherwise only sparsely treed such as [[savanna]]s, [[grassland]]s, or [[desert]]s. |
| − | The | + | The savanna formations are not homogenous. There is great variation between the amount of woody and herbaceous vegetation, forming a gradient from completely open "cerrado" — open fields dominated by grasses — to the closed, forest-like "cerrado" and the "cerradão" ("big cerrado"), a closed canopy forest. The trees have characteristic twisted trunks covered by a thick bark, and the leaves are usually broad and rigid. Many herbaceous plants have extensive roots to store water and nutrients. The plant's thick bark and roots serve as adaptations for the periodic fires that sweep the landscape. The adaptations protect the plants from destruction and make them capable of sprouting again after the fire. As in many savannas in the world, the "cerrado" ecosystems have been coexisting with fire since ancient times; initially as natural fires caused by [[lightning]] or [[volcano|volcanic]] activity, and later caused by man. |
| − | + | The great habitat variability in the different types of "cerrado" supports an enormous diversity of plant and animal species. | |
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| − | + | Gallery forests are able to exist where the surrounding landscape will not support forests for a number of reasons. The [[riparian]] zones in which they grow offer greater protection from fire which would kill tree seedlings <ref>J. Biddulph and M Kellman, 1998 "Fuels and fire at savanna-gallery forest boundaries in southeastern Venezuela" Journal of Tropical Ecology 14</ref> In addition the alluvial soils of the gallery habitat are often of higher fertility and better drainage than the soils of the surrounding landscape and have a more reliable water supply at depth. As a result the boundary between gallery forest and the surrounding woodland or grassland is usually very abrupt, | |
| − | + | [[Image:Cerrado.jpg|thumb|right|''Cerrado'' vegetation of Brazil]] | |
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===Flora=== | ===Flora=== | ||
Revision as of 18:19, 7 January 2009
| Noel Kempff Mercado National Park* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| |
| State Party |  Bolivia
|
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | ix, x |
| Reference | 967 |
| Region** | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2000 (24th Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. | |
| Noel Kempff Mercado National Park | |
|---|---|
| IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
  | |
| Location: | Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia |
| Area: | 15,234 km² |
| Established: | June 28, 1979 |
Noel Kempff Mercado National Park is a national park in the northeastern portion of the Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia, in one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. The park was created on June 28, 1979. Its original name was Parque Nacional Huanchaca, but it was changed to honor the late Professor Noel Kempff Mercado for his research and discoveries in the park.
Despite its natural beauty, lack of pollution, and isolation, the park still faces several threats, including:
- Turtle hunting
- Fishing
- Industrialized forest fires
- Illegal forest exploitation
- Drug trafficking
- Financing its projects
Geography
The Noel Kempff Mercado National Park spans 5,880 square miles (15,234 km²) in northeastern Bolivia on the border with Brazil. Bolivia is known for its diversity in climate, fauna, and flora. In the area of Santa Cruz de la Sierra the weather is very humid and warm. The normal temperature is between 25 and 29°C. The rainfall is roughly 1,500 mm annually.
The site contains an array of habitat types including evergreen rainforests, palm forests, cerrado, swamps, savannas, gallery forests, and semi-deciduous dry forests.
The cerrado (English: "closed" or "inaccessible") is a vast tropical savanna. The cerrado habitats found on the Huanchaca Meseta have been isolated for millions of years and thus contain a high diversity of plant and animal species, including viable populations of many globally threatened large vertebrates.
The cerrado landscape is crossed by gallery forests and stream valleys. Gallery forests are evergreen forests that form as corridors along rivers or wetlands and project into landscapes that are otherwise only sparsely treed such as savannas, grasslands, or deserts.
The savanna formations are not homogenous. There is great variation between the amount of woody and herbaceous vegetation, forming a gradient from completely open "cerrado" — open fields dominated by grasses — to the closed, forest-like "cerrado" and the "cerradão" ("big cerrado"), a closed canopy forest. The trees have characteristic twisted trunks covered by a thick bark, and the leaves are usually broad and rigid. Many herbaceous plants have extensive roots to store water and nutrients. The plant's thick bark and roots serve as adaptations for the periodic fires that sweep the landscape. The adaptations protect the plants from destruction and make them capable of sprouting again after the fire. As in many savannas in the world, the "cerrado" ecosystems have been coexisting with fire since ancient times; initially as natural fires caused by lightning or volcanic activity, and later caused by man.
The great habitat variability in the different types of "cerrado" supports an enormous diversity of plant and animal species.
Gallery forests are able to exist where the surrounding landscape will not support forests for a number of reasons. The riparian zones in which they grow offer greater protection from fire which would kill tree seedlings [1] In addition the alluvial soils of the gallery habitat are often of higher fertility and better drainage than the soils of the surrounding landscape and have a more reliable water supply at depth. As a result the boundary between gallery forest and the surrounding woodland or grassland is usually very abrupt,
Flora
It is estimated that the park has approximately 4,000 species of vascular plants. There exist diverse types of bromelias, passifloras, heliconias, aráceas, and palm trees. There are also important types of wood like the "Mara." The area includes five important ecosystems ranging from Amazonian rainforest, gallery forest and semi-deciduous tropical forest to flooded savanna and dry cerrado.
Fauna
The park is home to more than 130 species of mammals, (including rare river otters, river dolphins, tapirs, spider and howler monkeys, the giant armadillo, giant anteaters and endangered jaguars, including a population of black jaguars), 620 species of birds (including 9 species of macaw, possibly the highest number of species in any one protected area), and 70 species of reptiles, including black caiman and snakes.
There are also more than 617 species of birds (20 percent of the all bird species in South America). Recent studies say that these numbers would increase if migratory birds were included.
The park has 347 species of insects, including some of the rarest in the world, many of which have not yet been studied. Butterflies in a range of colors can be found.
Principal goals
The general objective of the park's formation is to protect this natural area of great diversity that has not been industrialized and is not polluted.
Specific goals are to:
- Guarantee protection of the ecosystems
- Foster scientific research
- Allow visitors to enjoy its natural beauty
- Help local residents to improve their lifestyle
Looking to the future
Through a unique partnership, the government of Bolivia, the Friends of Nature Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and three energy companies (American Electric Power, PacifiCorp, and BP Amoco) have teamed up to jointly implement the $11 million Noel Kempff Mercado Climate Action Project—the largest forest-based carbon project in the world.
External links
- Official UNESCO website entry
- Climate Action Project
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre
- Travel site with photos
- Photos
- Photos
- Short amateur video of waterfall Arco Iris in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
- Short amateur video of waterfall Ahlfeld in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
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- ↑ J. Biddulph and M Kellman, 1998 "Fuels and fire at savanna-gallery forest boundaries in southeastern Venezuela" Journal of Tropical Ecology 14
