Abanico de Pastaza (100243)
Peru, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: B1, B2

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Abanico de Pastaza

Central coordinates: Latitude: -4.2420, Longitude: -75.5790

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 100 to 250

Area of KBA (km²): 38289.55293

Protected area coverage (%): 0.09

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: No

Site details

Site description: The KBA Abanico de Pastaza covers an area of 38289.55 sq km and it's located in the department of Loreto, province Datem del Marañón, districts of Pastaza, Barranca and Morona. The "Abanico del Pastaza" region is formed mostly by volcanoclastic detritus that have their origins in the Ecuadorian Andean valleys, and whose main deposits are located in the Corrientes, Chambira, Nucuray and Urituyacu rivers, involving the northern and southern branch of the Samiria river. The KBA Abanico de Pastaza includes alluvial sedimentation, meandering and anastomosing rivers, and it is the largest Ramsar Site in the Peruvian Amazon, with more than 3.8 million ha of flooded forests, swamps, rivers and lakes, comprising unique and highly productive aquatic ecosystems that have a mixture of clear water from the Andes and black water from the Amazon flooded forests. The climate types present includes: 1) warm and very rainy with abundant humidity all seasons of the year. The maximum temperature ranges from 31°C to 33°C, the minimum temperature ranges from 21°C to 25°C, and the annual precipitation ranges from 2100 mm to 5000 mm; and 2) warm and rainy with abundant humidity all seasons of the year. The maximum temperature ranges from 31°C to 33°C, the minimum temperature ranges from 21°C to 23°C, and the annual precipitation ranges from 2000 mm to 3500 mm.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Abanico de Pastaza is qualified as a Key Biodiversity Area of international importance as it meets the thresholds of criteria B1 and B2 described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. This KBA harbors three range restricted birds (Pithys castaneus, Zimmerius villarejoi and Heterocercus aurantiivertex) and two range restricted fishes (Corydoras copei and Corydoras Lamberthi).

Additional biodiversity: Fishes: Creagrutus gracilis, Hemigrammus luelingi Birds: Grallaria dignissima, Nonnula brunnea, Myrmoborus melanurus, Zimmerius villarejoi, Anhima cornuta, Tachornis squamata, Opisthocomus hoazin, Brotogeris versicolurus, Orthopsittaca manilatus, Myrmelastes hyperythrus, Galbula tombacea, Brotogeris versicolurus, Agamia agami, Nonnula ruficapilla, Pithys castaneus, Phoenicircus nigricollis.

Manageability of the site: This site could be managed by the regional government of Loreto such as Regional forestry and wildlife authority. 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.

Supersedes another site: -

Other site values: The KBA Abanico del Pastaza encompasses the territories of the Achuar, Candoshi, Kichwa, Urarinas and Cocamas-Cocamillas indigenous groups, organized in more than 300 native communities. whose livelihoods depend on the ecosystem services provided by the "Abanico del Pastaza". References: Germaná, C., Lozano, L., Montoya, M., Nielsen, K., Soto, A., Tumi, A., ... & Flores, H. (2013). 10+ years in the Abanico del Pastaza-Nature, cultures and challenges in the Northern Peruvian Amazon. WWF, Perú. 72 pp.

Delineation rationale: This KBA is bordered on the east near Maynas province and Alto Nanay- Pintuyacu Chambira Regional Conservation Area; to the north with the Trompeteros and Tigre district; to the west, with Barranca district and to the southwest with the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Forest 70-80%, Wetland (inland) 20-30%

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: In this site, the main threats are related to the exploitation of natural resources, changes in land use and oil drilling projects, as well as spills from oil pipelines such as the Nor Peruano oil pipeline and its secondary pipeline. References: Nuevas amenazas sobre el más grande humedal complejo del Perú, el Abanico del Pastaza. Lima: DAR, 2019. 12 pp

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Energy production & mining	Oil & gas drilling		Ongoing
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]

Additional information

References: OEFA (2018). Environmental Emergencies Map. MINAM (2018) National Ecosystems Map of Peru. In SINIA (National Environmental Information System). 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). Climates of Peru: national climate classification map. In Climates of Peru: national climate classification map (pp. 70-70). https://www.senamhi.gob.pe/?p=mapa-climatico-del-peru. Clapperton C. M. (1990).- Glacial and volcanic geomorphology of the Chimorazo - Carihuairazo Massif, Ecuadorian Andes. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences 81:91- 116. Zapata, A.; Ticona, P. & Atencio, E. (2000) - Evolution of the Pastaza fan and its relationship with the Ucamara deposits. In: Peruvian Congress of Geology, 10, Lima, 2000. Technical papers. Lima: Sociedad Geológica del Perú, p. 342-351. Germaná, C., Lozano, L., Montoya, M., Nielsen, K., Soto, A., Tumi, A., ... & Flores, H. (2013). 10+ years in the Abanico del Pastaza-Nature, cultures and challenges in the Northern Peruvian Amazon. WWF, Perú. 72 pp.