THE VEGETATION OF THE SETTLEMENT AREA OF THE CALLAWAYA PEOPLE AND THEULLA-ULLA HIGHLANDS IN THE BOLIVIAN ANDES

A vegetation analysis, using the Blaun-Blanquet method, and the result s of a mapping project in the settlement area of the Callawaya and in the Ulla-Ulla highlands of Bolivia are described. The map, scale 1: 50 ,000, is enclosed and the map legend in English is included as Appendi x 1. The research area is discussed within parameters relevant to the vegetation analysis: geology, geomorphology, climate, soils, and anthr opogenic factors represented by land use. The plant communities of the Charazani mountain region and the adjacent area are detailed in Appen dix 2. Vegetation types include scrub, forest, grassland, rock and bou lder fields, wetlands, and agricultural and ruderal fields. The interr elationships between physical features and vegetation, on the one hand , and vegetation and human activities, on the other, are very striking . In areas settled by the Callawaya Indians, there is a strong relatio nship between vegetation types dependent on altitude and the different forms of agriculture; grazing by llama and alpaca has particularly af fected vegetation. Special attention is paid to the occurrence of pote ntial natural forest cover and to the former position of the original upper forest limit. In the Ulla-Ulla highlands pasture induced by graz ing has replaced natural steppe vegetation so that the former must now be regarded as the natural cover type.