Maya - Lacandón (20355)
Guatemala, Central America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e, B1
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Maya - Lacandón
Central coordinates: Latitude: 17.2458, Longitude: -90.2977
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 50 to 650
Area of KBA (km2): 20918.06497
Protected area coverage (%): 49.66
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Maya - Lacandón is a KBA in Guatemala. It is an important site for species restricted to the Gulf Caribbean Slope, for waterbirds, and for species requiring large extensions of tropical broadleaf forest. The site covers 19% of Guatemala and is part of the largest Neotropical forest north of the Amazon. Although this KBA is almost entirely legally protected, it faces severe threats by habitat fragmentation, forest fires, illegal logging, and unsustainable use of forest resources.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The site includes two plant species that trigger criterion A1e and four bird species that trigger criterion B1. Additionally, there are 23 legacy bird species.
Manageability of the site: The manageability of the site has not been documented.
Delineation rationale: No delineation rationale is available.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Grassland | 8 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 4 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 3 | |
| Forest | 60 |
Additional information
Contributors: KBA originally identified using pre-existing criteria. Latest assessment of the KBA includes tree species completed by BGCI.