Huaytapallana Regional Conservation Area (100063)
Peru, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, B2

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Área de Conservación Regional Huaytapallana

Central coordinates: Latitude: -11.8800, Longitude: -75.0300

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 3700 to 5560

Area of KBA (km²): 224.24445

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: No

Site details

Site description: The KBA Huaytapallana Regional Conservation Area covers an area of 224.24 sq km and it's located in the department of Junín, Huancayo y Concepción provinces. The altitudinal range of this KBA is 3700 to 5560 masl. The climate is rainy with dry autumn and winter, cold, with a maximum temperature between 9°C to 19°C and a minimum temperature between -7°C to 3°C. Annual rainfall ranges between 500 mm and 1500 mm approximately. The KBA Huaytapallana Regional Conservation Area presents the following ecosystems: Puna Grassland, "Bofedales", Periglacial zone and Glacier zone. The area consists mainly of high altitude grasslands, glaciers, peatlands (bofedales) and several small lakes. Although it is a protected area, sustainable use of resources by local communities is allowed. The area is important for water provision, mainly from melting of glaciers and is also a tourist destination. No indigenous lands overlap the site.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Huaytapallana Regional Conservation qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for A1a and B2 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. This KBA harbors the endangered plant Pycnophyllum holleanum and the range restricted bird species Cinclodes aricomae and Asthenes palpebralis.

Additional biodiversity: Scytalopus gettya, Lophonetta specularioides, Merganetta armata, Fulica gigantea, Gallinago andina, Larus serranus, Plegadis ridgwayi, Gentianella alborosea, Pycnophyllopsis cryptantha

Manageability of the site: This KBA is a regional conservation area managed by the regional government of Junín with the technical support of the National Service for Natural Areas Protected by the State - SERNANP.

Delineation rationale: The Huaytapallana Regional Conservation Area follows the boundaries of the Huaytapallana Regional Conservation Area, extending northward to the locality of Jatunhuasi in the Comas district. To the east, it continues along the border between the provinces of Concepción and Huancayo. The western boundary includes the Cochas, Madurayoc, and T'illu snow-capped peaks.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Grassland 80-90% Wetland (inland) 10-20%

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants	Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Tourism & recreation areas		Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Climate change & severe weather			Ongoing

Additional information

References: MINAM. (2018). Mapa Nacional de Ecosistemas del Perú. SINIA (Sistema Nacional de Información Ambiental) https://sinia.minam.gob.pe/mapas/mapa-nacional-ecosistemas-peru Castro, A., Dávila, C., Laura, W., Cubas Saucedo, F., Ávalos, G., López, C., ... & Marín, D. (2021). Climas del Perú: mapa de clasificación climática nacional. In Climas del Perú: mapa de clasificación climática nacional (pp. 70-70). https://www.senamhi.gob.pe/?p=mapa-climatico-del-peru