Ayabaca (100244)
Peru, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1e, B2

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Ayabaca

Central coordinates: Latitude: -4.6720, Longitude: -79.6420

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 550 to 3400

Area of KBA (km²): 2001.99139

Protected area coverage (%): 2.29

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: No

Site details

Site description: The Ayabaca KBA covers an area of 2001.991 km and is located in Peru, in the department of Piura, in the province of Ayabaca near the Ecuadorian border, in an area of montane forest that preserves patches of primary forest on the steeper slopes. Part of the area is administered by the communities of Cuyas and Cuchayo, and 60 hectares of forest are under the jurisdiction of the Ayabaca Provincial Municipality. The altitudinal range of the KBA is 550 to 3400 masl, and includes the former Huamba, Toldo, Suyo la Tina and Bosque de Cuya KBAs. The climates in the KBA were determined by the National Climate Classification Map (2021), which are Rainy with dry winters. Temperate, Rainy with abundant humidity all seasons of the year. Temperate and Semiarid with dry winter. Temperate. In the first, the maximum temperature ranges between 27 °C and 29 °C; the minimum, between 8.1 °C and 16.4 °C; and annual precipitation, between 2000 mm and 3500 mm. In the second, the maximum temperature ranges between 25 °C and 29 °C, the minimum temperature between 11 °C and 17 °C, and the annual precipitation between 1200 mm and 3000 mm. In the third, the maximum temperature ranges between 17°C and 23°C; the minimum temperature, between 7°C and 11°C; and the annual precipitation, between 7.9 mm and 1800 mm. It includes the following ecosystems: Agricultural zone, Western slope montane relict forest on the western slope, Andean scrubland, Páramo.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Ayabaca is qualified as a Key Biodiversity Area of international importance as it meets the thresholds of criteria B2 described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs with twelve range-restricted bird species and A1e for Atelopus eusebiodiazi.

Manageability of the site: The KBA Aguaytia could be managed by the Piura Regional Government and Ayabaca municipality with the administration and technical support of SERNANP.

Supersedes another site: Bosque de Cuyas - 14915, Aypate -14698 , Toldo - 14699, Huamba - 14806, Suyo La Tina - 14907

Delineation rationale: The KBA borders in the north with Reserva de la Biosfera Transfronteriza Bosques de Paz, Perú - Ecuador, to weast with Pacaipampa and Lagunas district and to the southeast with Bosques de Neblina and Páramos de Samanga and Lagunas and Páramos de Andinos de San José de Tapal Private Conservation Area.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Forest 100%

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest		Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Farming and grazing activities are carried out in the area, as well as orchid collection.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming

Additional information

References: 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 Evaluaciones de la avifauna por Franke (Franke 1994, Valencia et al. 1998), Flanagan and Vellinga (2000); Vellinga et al. (2004).