Integrating Species Richness, Distribution and Human Pressures to Assess Conservation Priorities in High Andean Salares

High Andean salares and their surrounding basins host unique ecosystems and rich biodiversity. Increasing global demand for lithium and brines in these environments have attracted significant international investment, raising both economic expectations and socio-environmental concerns. This poses major challenges for biodiversity conservation, governance models, and the management of socio-environmental conflicts. One of the main challenges for effective conservation is the lack of systematic biodiversity inventories and an integrated conservation diagnosis. In this study, we leverage range–diversity plot analysis to describe the patterns of biological diversity and species distribution in High Andean salares. We then integrate this information with estimates of available suitable habitat area and degree of human pressure, to categorize the priorities for the salt flats. Our results show that many salt flats serve as biodiversity hotspots, dominated by species with wide distribution ranges. A significant number of salt flats host rare species, indicating the necessity for focused conservation initiatives. The studied salt flats warrant prioritisation for restoration, protection, and the enhancement of public policies and social awareness initiatives. Current conservation strategies should be consistent with the Network of Protected Salt Flats as outlined in the National Lithium Strategy, thereby enhancing socio-environmental governance in these delicate socio-ecosystems.