Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Communal Lands (''Reserva de Biosfera y Tierra Comunitaria de Origen Pilón Lajas'') is a
protected area
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewood ...
in
Bolivia
Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in central South America. The country features diverse geography, including vast Amazonian plains, tropical lowlands, mountains, the Gran Chaco Province, w ...
located in the departments of
La Paz
La Paz, officially Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Aymara language, Aymara: Chuqi Yapu ), is the seat of government of the Bolivia, Plurinational State of Bolivia. With 755,732 residents as of 2024, La Paz is the List of Bolivian cities by populati ...
(
Sud Yungas,
Larecaja and
Franz Tamayo provinces) and
Beni (
José Ballivián Province), in their northern and western parts, respectively, about 350 km northeast of
La Paz
La Paz, officially Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Aymara language, Aymara: Chuqi Yapu ), is the seat of government of the Bolivia, Plurinational State of Bolivia. With 755,732 residents as of 2024, La Paz is the List of Bolivian cities by populati ...
and 50 km west of
San Borja. It lies largely within the
Bolivian Yungas
The Bolivian Yungas is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in the Yungas of central Bolivia.
Setting
The ecoregion occurs in elevations ranging from on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Bolivia, extending into a small ...
ecoregion
An ecoregion (ecological region) is an ecological and geographic area that exists on multiple different levels, defined by type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and c ...
.
The main river that flows in the Pilon Lajas area is the
Quiquibey River.
As of 2004, the indigenous population of Pilón Lajas was 1,394, distributed across 25 communities. Predominantly these residents are members of the
Mosetén,
Tsimané, and
Tacana peoples, but they also include intermarried
Quechuas
Quechua people (, ; ) , Quichua people or Kichwa people may refer to any of the Indigenous peoples of South America who speak the Quechua languages, which originated among the Indigenous people of Peru. Although most Quechua speakers are nativ ...
,
Aymaras,
Lecos and
Yuracarés.
Establishment
Pilón Lajas was declared a
biosphere reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologic ...
by
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
in 1977.
The Bolivian government designated it an indigenous territory and biosphere reserve through Supreme Decree 23110, issued in 1992.
The multiethnic Tsimané Moseten Regional Council (; CRTM) was formed in 1992 and received the title to the reserve as a
Native Community Land or TCO in 1997.
References
External links
www.parkswatch.org / Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Communal Lands
''Reserva de Biosfera y Tierra Comunitaria de Origen PILÓN LAJAS''(Spanish)
Protected areas of Bolivia
Geography of La Paz Department (Bolivia)
Geography of Beni Department
Protected areas established in 1992
Biosphere reserves of Bolivia
Native Community Lands in Bolivia
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