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Beni Floodplains

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description Beni Floodplains Overview

The Beni Floodplains are seasonally inundated tropical lowlands in Bolivia's Beni Department, within the upper Amazon drainage basin. Their mosaic of rivers, lakes, marshes, savannas, and forest islands changes substantially between wet and dry seasons. These aquatic and grassland habitats support abundant fish, waterbirds, reptiles, and mammals, including the Bolivian river dolphin.

help Beni Floodplains FAQ

Are the Beni Floodplains the same as the Llanos de Moxos?

The names substantially overlap, with Llanos de Moxos commonly used for the vast seasonally flooded savannas of Bolivia's Beni region. The wider system is associated with the Beni, Mamoré, and Iténez river networks of the upper Amazon basin.

Why do forest islands rise above the flooded Beni savannas?

Some islands occupy naturally higher ground, while others contain earthworks or settlement remains created by pre-Columbian communities. Raised fields, causeways, canals, and habitation mounds show that people actively managed parts of the Llanos de Moxos.

What happens to wildlife when the Beni Floodplains flood?

Seasonal water spreads across savannas and connects rivers, lakes, marshes, and temporary channels. Fish move into newly flooded habitat, while terrestrial animals concentrate on forest islands, river levees, and other higher ground.

Which animals are associated with the Beni wetlands?

The region supports jaguars, black caimans, capybaras, river dolphins, waterbirds, and many fish species. It is also the native range of the critically endangered blue-throated macaw, a bird strongly associated with Bolivia's Beni savannas.

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