Xyris guillenii

Similar habitats over the border in Brazil can be seen to be very degraded by agriculture and urbanisation from satellite images. Currently however the pampa grasslands in the Noel Kempff National Park are in good condition. This species grows in the seasonally flooded Pampa, found on the bank of the río Itenez, which is the river border between Bolivia and Rondônia, Brazil. Over the border in Brazil there has been extensive deforestation visible on satellite images (NASA and Google Earth). The land-use is large-scale cattle ranching pastures and mechanised agriculture (Begotti et al. 2019). Although relatively remote from the Bolivian side of the border, Bella Vista is accessible by boat from both communities in Bolivia and Brazil. Accessibility poses a risk from trampling, fire, firewood collection or path clearance. Secondly, in nearby areas at the Bajo Paraguá Forest Reserve, timber has been extracted and there are small areas of agriculture and livestock farming (Villegas et al. 2014). Meaning that the human activities in the region could extend into the peripheral of the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park and cause habitat degradation. Secondly in other areas of the national park with pampa habitat the habitat remains intact but invasive grasses have been recorded in this area, which could also contribute to habitat degradation (J.R.I. Wood pers. comm. 2011). It is important that invasive grass spread from agriculture or cattle pasture is monitored and controlled in the area, although the spread may be limited by the habitat. Consequently, it is suspected habitat degradation could be impacting this species.

This species occurs within Noel Kempff Mercado National Park.