Madidi

Infobox_protected_area | name = Madidi National Park
iucn_category =


caption = Madidi National Park, Bolivia
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = La Paz, BOL
nearest_city = Rurrenabaque, Beni
lat_degrees = 12
lat_minutes = 30
lat_seconds = 0
lat_direction = S
long_degrees = 67
long_minutes = 30
long_seconds = 0
long_direction = W
area = 18,957.5 km² [cite web| title=SERNAP| url=http://www.sernap.gov.bo/madidi/ubica.htm|accessdate = 2008-02-10]
established = September 21, 1995
visitation_num =
visitation_year = 2006
governing_body = SERNAP Servicio Nacional de Áreas Protegidas

Madidi is a national park in the upper Amazon river basin in Bolivia. Established in 1995, [ cite news |title=Right to Name New Monkey Auctioned for Conservation |url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2005/2005-02-10-04.asp |work= |publisher=Environment News Service, international daily newswire |date=2005-02-10 |accessdate=2007-09-25] it has an area of 18,958 square kilometres, and along with nearby protected (though not necessarily contiguous) areas Manuripi-Heath, Apolobamba, and (across the border in Peru) the Manu Biosphere Reserve, Madidi is part of one of the largest protected areas in the world.

Ranging from the glacier-covered peaks of the high Andes Mountains to the tropical rainforests of the Tuichi River, Madidi and its neighbors are recognized as one of the planet's most biologically diverse regions. [cite web| title=Wildlife Conservation Society| url=http://www.wcs.org/international/latinamerica/centralandes/nwbolivia/madidimonkey/madidi_summary|accessdate=2008-02-10 ]

The Madidi National Park can be reached from Rurrenabaque if you cross the Beni River with the small passenger ferry over to San Buenaventura.

The local people who have migrated here from the Andean highlands speak the Quechua language. The cultures who find their origin here are the Tacana, the Mosete, the Tsimane and the Ese Ejja, all of which have their own language which pertains to one language group. [cite web |url=http://www.mobot.org/mobot/Research/madidi/field_reports/field_report_apolobamba/apolobamba_english.shtml |title=THE EXPEDITION TO APOLOBAMBA |accessdate=2007-09-23]

Some eco-lodges are found in and around the Madidi National Park. The oldest and best known is Chalalan Ecolodge in Chalalán on the Tuichi River. Another is the San Miguel del Bala Eco-Lodge on the banks of the Beni River, reached by boat 40 minutes up stream from Rurrenabaque.

Location

The PN and IMNA Madidi is located in the Northwest region of the Department of La Paz, in the provinces Franz Tamayo, Iturralde and Abel Bautista Saavedra. The municipalities involved are Apolo, San Buenaventura, Ixiamas, Curva and Pelechuco.

Adjacent to the west, with the Tambopata-Candamo Reserve and Bahuaja-Sonene National Park in Peru, on the east by the TCO Tacana I, on the north by TCO Tacana II and south adjacent to the Integrated Management Natural Area National Apolobamba, TCO Lecos Apolo, TCO Lecos Larecaja and Biosphere Reserve and Indigenous Territory Pilón Lajas.

The PN and IMNA Madidi is one of the largest protected areas in Bolivia, with a total land area, according to the Supreme Decree building 18957.5 square kilometres, of which 12,715 km² come under the heading of National Park and 6,242.5 km² are categorized under the Integrated Management Natural Area.

Its boundaries are between 12° 30' and 14° 44' southern latitude and between 67° 30' and 69° 51' western longitude.

The area under conservation covers an altitudinal gradient ranging from 180 to 5,760 meters above sea level and has a variety of ecosystems.

Weather

The climate varies from cold in the mountain range area, in temperate lands intermediate mountain until warm lowlands of the North.

The winds come predominantly from the north and south of cold fronts have little impact on the temperature of the region's Madidi. The dry season coincides with the austral winter. The average annual temperature is 26 C degrees , but much depends on the altitude. [http://www.sernap.gov.bo/madidi/map/mapa_de_isotermas.jpgIsotemas]

According to data from Assane (2002), in the region of Apollo is the annual rainfall of 716 mm and October to March with the greatest precipitation, the dry season covered the months from May to September. [http://www.sernap.gov.bo/madidi/map/mapa_de_isoyetas.jpgIsoyetas] [ [http://www.sernap.gov.bo/madidi/ MADIDI DE BOLIVIA, MAGICO, UNICO Y NUESTRO 2001 (Spanish)] ] ]

Effort

Rosa Maria Ruiz is a woman who has fought for the park and its conservation. Though it should be noted that she is a controversial figure among the Tacana Indigenous who originate here in the northern lowlands of Bolivia. Ruiz is reputable for acquiring resources and funding in the name of the Tacna which has led to expulsion from many Tacana communities as from the National Park.

Wildlife

Dr. Robert Wallace, wildlife biologist, is credited for discovering in Madidi an unidentified titi monkey who only lives in Madidi, a new species to science. Though it should be said, that the titi monkey had never been a novelty among the indigenous living in the area and Dr. Wallace's claim on fame for his "discovery" caused much strife among the cultures which originate here. The park is also notable for its over 1,000 bird species, representing 11% of the world’s 9,000 bird species. [cite web |url=http://www.wcs.org/international/latinamerica/centralandes/nwbolivia/madidimonkey/madidi_summary |title=Why Is Madidi So Amazing? |accessdate=2007-09-23 |publisher=Wildlife Conservation Society]

References

External links

* Servicio Nacional de Áreas Protegidas, SERN
http://www.sernap.gov.bo/madidi/ Official website]
* Madidi-travel: madidi-travel.com, calle Linarez, La Paz.