Noel Kempff Mercado National Park

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park is a national park in northeast Santa Cruz Department, Province of José Miguel de Velasco, Bolivia, on the border with Brazil.

Date of creation

Founded on June 28, 1979, the park was originally named "Parque Nacional Huanchaca." Less than a decade later, in 1988, the park was renamed "Parque Nacional Noel Kempff Mercado" in honor of the late pioneering biologist and Bolivian conservationist Prof. Noel Kempff Mercado, both for his research and discoveries in the Park and in memory of his tragic death in the area; Mercado was murdered in the park by drug traffickers when he inadvertently stumbled across a secret cocaine laboratory high on the Huanchaca plateau. 

 

Description

                                                                     

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park occupies 15,234 km² (5,880 mi²) in the northeastern corner of the Bolivian department of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. One of the most biologically diverse areas in the world, Bolivia is known for its diversity in climate, fauna and flora. Weather in the general area is very hot and humid throughout the year, with abundant rainfall reaching roughly 1500 mm.

Flora

It is estimated that the park is home to approximately 4.000 species of vascular plants, including bromelias, passifloras, heliconias, aráceas and palm trees. There are also important woods like the "Mara" (mahogany). The area encompasses five important ecosystems ranging from Amazonian rain forest, gallery forest and semi-deciduous tropical forest to flooded savanna and dry cerrado.

                                             

Fauna

The park is also home to more than 130 species of mammals (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 (nine species of macaw, possibly the highest number of species in any one protected area), and more than 70 species of reptiles, including the black caiman (Melanosuchus niger).

Birds

In this area there are more than 617 species of birds — 20% of the all bird species in South America. Recent studies indicate that these numbers will increase once migratory birds are included.

Reptiles

In this park there exist nearly 74 species of reptiles including the black caiman, snakes, and other rare species.

Invertebrates

The park has 347 species of insect, among them the rarest in the world. They are unfortunately not studied yet.

Principal goals

To protect this unpolluted, non-industrialized natural area of great diversity.

Specific goals:

Guarantee protection of the park's ecosystems

Contribute to scientific research

Enjoyment by visitors

Show visitors an unpolluted area with beautiful locations

Help the people that live here to improve their lifestyle

Threats the park faces:

Turtle hunting, poaching

Fishing

Industrialized forest fires

Illegal forest exploitation

Narco-trafficking

Financial problems