ABSTRACT
Syagrus yungasensis is an endemic palm tree of Bolivia. It grows in humid and seasonal mountain forests on rocky substrate of the Eastern Andes between 700 m and 1,500 m elevation of La Paz department. The so-called Coquito Palm is 5–7 m tall with a solitary stem and is used for its mature edible fruits by local people in nine subpopulations; it possibly still maintains a gene flow. The threats that influence this species are as follows: permanent expansion of agriculture sites (coca leave plantations: Erythroxylum coca), new road construction, and increase of local settlements as a consequence of regional development. According to IUCN Red List criteria, the species has been assessed as Endangered. Thanks to the integrated conservation project carried out by Jardín Botánico La Paz in collaboration with Botanic Gardens International (BGCI) from 2018 until 2021, the ecology, propagation, and cultivation for this unique palm is better understood. Additionally, local awareness and guidance materials were developed to highlight the ecological importance of the species. Indisputably, the endemic condition of this species assigns a high level of importance and needs for its conservation and also care of the native semi-humid forests of these valleys of the Yungas region in Bolivia.
