National and subnational protected areas, indigenous territories, forest concessions, and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are pivotal for biodiversity conservation and persistence. On International Primate Day, British explorer and biologist Robert Wallace explains the importance of forests to avoid losing these mammals.
“All primate species in Bolivia depend on the country’s tropical forests, therefore any initiative promoting forest conservation in Bolivia helps them, and helps us, given the importance of forest cover in everything related to climate regulation, including basic and fundamental aspects such as water availability,” explains Wallace.
Robert Wallace is known for his explorations in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park and Madidi National Park, and he is a prominent professional in primate conservation.
When asked how unique Bolivia is in terms of primates, Wallace pointed out that there are 24 species in the country, two of which are endemic, meaning they are found only in Bolivia. Plecturocebus modestus and Plecturocebus olallae are known as lucachis and are exclusively distributed in the southwestern part of the Beni department.
“Both lucachi species, P. Modestus and P. Olallae, are considered Endangered and Critically Endangered, respectively, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN. This week, P. olallae has been included again as one of the 25 most threatened primate species in the world,” reports Wallace.
Wallace also highlights that several species are considered threatened at some level, including the spider monkey (Ateles chamek), the woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagothricha), both howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya & Alouatta sara), and the Goeldi’s marmoset (Callimico goeldii) in Bolivia.
Under this scenario, the National System of Protected Areas in Bolivia is crucial to fostering biodiversity conservation, including primates. “National Protected Areas have been complemented by various subnational protected areas, especially those at a municipal level. For example, most of the distribution range of the two endemic lucachis falls within two large municipal protected areas in the municipalities of Reyes (Rhukanrhuka Municipal Protected Area) and Santa Rosa del Yacuma (Pampas del Yacuma Municipal Protected Area)”, he explains.
Wallace highlights that both protected areas were created in part with the intention of protecting these endemic species. This reflects the commitment of the local people to conservation and their vision for a sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
Madidi National Park: A conservation jewel
Biologist Robert Wallace shared his admiration for Madidi National Park, describing it as “simply extraordinary.” This is the protected area with the highest biodiversity in the world.
“Due to its unique altitudinal range of almost 6,000 meters and its location combining the Tropical Andes and the Amazon, it is the jewel of the national protected areas system and recognized worldwide as an exceptional place. Additionally, Madidi has a beauty and scenic and landscape variety that is like a movie and difficult to comprehend,” says the explorer.
Cover photo: Robert Wallace, WCS