Chontayacu (100195)
Peru, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Chontayacu
Central coordinates: Latitude: -8.8239, Longitude: -76.6991
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 700 to 3500
Area of KBA (km2): 3186.52872
Protected area coverage (%): 16.28
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: The KBA Chontayacu covers an area of 3186.53 sq km and it's located within the province of Marañón in the department of Huánuco. This KBA follows to the north and northeast, the departmental political limit of Huánuco; to the west, south and east it follows the relief of the terrain and the line of the mountains covering from 800 - 3350 masl in order to cover necessary areas for the Critically Endangered primate Lagothrix flavicauda and the endemic and range-restricted fish Hemibrycon divisorensis. The altitude range of the KBA Chontayacu is 700-3500 masl. The weather is temperate, rainy with abundant humidity all year round. The maximum temperature ranges from 25°C to 29°C, while the minimum temperature from 11°C to 17°C. The annual precipitation varies between 1200 mm and 3000 mm. Following the National Map of Ecoregions, the KBA Chontayacu presents ca. 52% of Bosque montano de Yunga, ca. 24% of Bosque basimontano de Yunga, ca. 17% of Bosque altimontano (Pluvial) de Yunga, ca. 5% of Vegetación Secundaria, ca. 1% of Zona agrícola and ca. 1% of Río.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Chontayacu qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for A1, B1 and B2 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBA. The KBA Chontayacu is home to the Critically Endangered primate Lagothrix flavicauda, one endemic and range-restricted fish (Hemibrycon divisorensis) and the range restricted bird species Metallura theresiae, Henicorhina leucoptera, Grallaria przewalskii, Atlapetes tricolor.
Additional biodiversity: Weberbauerocereus albus, Metallura theresiae (LC), Henicorhina leucoptera (NT), Grallaria przewalskii (VU), Atlapetes tricolor (LC). Many bird are observed on the site: Cnemathraupis aureodorsalis (EN), Doliornis sclateri (VU), Henicorhina leucoptera (NT), Grallaria przewalskii (VU), Zimmerius cinereicapilla (VU), Poospiza rufosuperciliaris, Metallura theresiae, Atlapetes tricolor, Scytalopus acutirostris the range restricted.
Manageability of the site: Since the KBA Chontayacu includes part of two Fragile Ecosystems: San Pedro de Chonta and Yanajanca, this KBA can be initally managed by the National Forest and Wildlife Service - SERFOR.
Supersedes another site: -
Other site values: Quechuas Indigenous Communities to the West and Kichwa Indigenous Communities to the East of this KBA.
Delineation rationale: The limits of the KBA Chontayacu follows to the north and northeast, the departmental political limit of Huánuco; to the west, south and east it follows the relief of the terrain and the line of the mountains by the tops of the highest mountains of 800 - 3350 masl in order to cover necessary areas for the trigger species.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The KBA Chontayacu comprises approximately 52% of Montane Yungas Forest, 24% of Basimontane Yungas Forest, 17% of Pluvial Montane Forest, 5% of Secondary Vegetation, 1% of Agricultural Zone, and 1% of River.
Land use: This KBA doesn´t have any type of management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 5 | |
| Forest | 95 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: In the KBA Chontayacu, Lagothrix flavicauda faces threats related to modifications in the natural system, including dam construction. They are also affected by agricultural and livestock activities. These threats are ongoing, and their extent and severity are unknown.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | 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
Contributors: Laura Graham-Angeles, Víctor Pacheco, Max Hidalgo, Letty Salinas, Victor Sánchez and Camila Dávila