Area:                       1,880,996 hectares
Habitat Type:           Cloud forest and dense lowland forest +
Location:                 La Paz department, Bolivia
Base City:               Cusco, Peru



Recognised in 1993 as Bolivia’s most important natural area, the Madidi National Park lies along the Peruvian border of Bolivia and shares its borders with four other protected areas. There is a high diversity of habitats present due to the various geographical features. Dense forests cover 80% of the parks, which contain a high diversity of wildlife. Of the described animal species, the park contains around 156 species of mammal, 109 different reptiles, 867 species of bird, and 88 different amphibian species, of which over 30 are found no where else on Earth. Of the described plants in the area, there is a high diversity. The park is believed to contain over 5,000 different species. The park contains spectacled bears, pumas, jaguars, Andean deer, giant otters, and a multitude of different primates. Of the birds that you can find in the park, there is the green winged macaw, cock-of-the-rock, harpy eagle, crested eagle, and a significant amount of endangered species. The parks human population is approximately 3,900 individuals over 31 communities.



The threats to the Park are mainly the construction of roads, which block animal paths and disrupt breeding patterns. The roads will also make it easier to mine resources and make it vulnerable to colonisation. As with other parks, illegal hunting and logging also threaten the area.



The area has been a tourist attraction since the 1970’s due to its scenic beauty and unique biodiversity, however, because of poor park management and inadequate facilities, the park was unable to maintain conservation goals with the amount of visitors. Subsequently, tourists posed a threat to the park instead of aiding conservation. The main reason was the concentration of tourists in one area resulting in negative consequences for biodiversity. But the area is now operating new management plans, which seem hopeful for the parks future and will hopefully turn the impact of tourism around and let tourism aid conservation. To visit the park and cause a positive effect on the natural environment, you can stay at the Heath River Wildlife Centre, the only lodge on the river, which is owned by a non-profit conservation organisation.

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