Sihuas (100075)
Peru, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1d

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Sihuas

Central coordinates: Latitude: -8.5700, Longitude: -77.6700

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 3600 to 4070

Area of KBA (km²): 18.36609

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: No

Site details

Site description: The KBA Sihuas covers an area of 18.391 sq km and it's located within the province of Sihuas in the department of Áncash, Perú. The climate in the Sihuas KBA is Rainy with dry autumn and winter, Temperate. The altitude range of this KBA is 3600 - 4070 masl. The KBA presents Agricultural zone, Andean scrubland and Puna humid grassland. The main habitat consists of high altitude grasslands (jalcas) with mixed shrublands at lower elevations. The site and one of the localities where the species was collected is near an active mine. No indigenous lands or protected areas overlap the site.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Sihuas qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for the A1 criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBA and harbors the plant species Gentianella weigendii and Polylepis weberbaueri.

Manageability of the site: This KBA is a regional conservation area managed by the regional government of Áncash with the technical support of the National Service of Natural Protected Areas by the State (SERNANP). The National Coordination Group of KBAs has a conservation promotion and monitoring committee, which is composed of various governmental and civil society institutions that will work to promote conservation actions in the KBA.

Delineation rationale: The KBA limit in the south-east borders the town center Pasacancha and by the north, it borders the populated centers of Huayllampo Alto, Cashapampa and Shongohuarco.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Grassland 80-90% Artificial - terrestrial 10-20%

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	90	Wetlands (inland) – Permanent rivers/streams/creeks (includes waterfalls)

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Nomadic grazing	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance			Unknown

Additional information

References: National Map of Ecosystems of MINAM (2018) Map of National Climate Classification (2021)