Bolivia is one of the most biologically and culturally diverse countries of the world maintaining vast, intact humid and dry forest ecosystems with more than 20,000 species of plants, 45% of all South American bird species, 356 species of mammals and more than 200 species of amphibians. More than 50% of the country is characterized by ecosystems with good or excellent conservation status.
The core objective of the Bolivian System of Protected Areas is to maintain representative samples of the bio-geographic provinces. This is done through the implementation of policies, strategies, plans, programs and regulations in order to generate sustainable processes within the protected areas. These processes need to conserve biodiversity and integrate the partici- pation of local populations for the benefit of present and future generations. The mission of the Bolivian Service for Protected Areas (SERNAP) is to coordinate the functioning of the Bolivian System of Pro- tected Areas. It guarantees the integral management of the national protected areas in order to conserve biodiversity.
