Villonaco-Uritusinga (100059)
Ecuador, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, B1, B2, B3a
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Villonaco-Uritusinga
Central coordinates: Latitude: -4.0522, Longitude: -79.2662
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1400 to 3560
Area of KBA (km2): 171.14517
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: This cordillera site is located in the transition of upper semi-humid areas and the dry tumbesian valley of Loja province. Located on altitude of 1800 to 2800m, this ridge is very important for endemic and restricted species of the southern Andes of Ecuador. Despite, the patches of agricultural areas and cattle pasture grasslands; the main ecosystems are semi-deciduous shrubs from the southern andean valley, including montane evergreen forests and lower montane evergreen semi-deciduous forests of the southwestern cordillera.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least five criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Threatened and range restricted species like: Macropholidus montanuccii (B1, B2); Pristimantis cajamarcensis (B2); Atractus carrioni (A1a, B2, B3a); Gastrotheca elicioi (B1); Stenocercus humeralis (B2, B3a); Bothrops lojanus (A1b, B1, B2, B3a); Puya parviflora (A1a) and Gastrotheca lojana (A1b, B2).
Additional biodiversity: Penelope barbata and several tumbesian endemic birds.
Manageability of the site: A portion of the KBA is a protected forest, Malacatos river basin (10%). Moreover nearly the 50% of the KBA is under the designation of conservation and sustainable use area by two different municipalities, Catamayo and Loja.
Delineation rationale: On north, deforested and agricultural areas of Guangora. On west, a similar landscape but from Catamayo valley, El Tambo and on southeast, Malacatos. On west, the outskirts of Loja city, a mosaic of deforestation, agricultural lands, cattle pastures and human settlements.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 30 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane |
| Forest | 40 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical dry |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic species/diseases of unknown origin | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Unknown | |
| Other options | Other threat | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja: Diego Armijos, Diana Székely, Paul Székely, Pablo Loaiza (amphibians and reptiles), Jorge Armijos (flora).
Universidad Católica del Ecuador: Santiago Ron (amphibians), Omar Torres (reptiles)