Chimborazo (100265)
Ecuador, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Chimborazo
Central coordinates: Latitude: -1.4326, Longitude: -78.8438
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 3650 to 6050
Area of KBA (km2): 526.50292
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: This reserve is located between Chimborazo, Tungurahua and Bolivar provinces. It is iconic for having the highest mountain in Ecuador (6310 masl) and held distinctive species of paramos and puna habitats. The main habitats are related with open paramo vegetation. This goes from grasslands, scrubs and shrubs plus patches of elfin forests. Puna arid habitats, snow and glaciers regions (base of Chimborazo Volcano). Based on the quantity of water produced by glacier melting some areas are boggy grassland, moor paramos and evergreen paramo forests (E.g. small remnants of Polylepis sp.). Four bird species trigger the KBA under B2 criteria, like the range restricted hummingbird: Oreotrochilus chimborazo that, sometimes can be found at more than 5000 masl.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the KBA thresholds of B2 criterion. Three andean restricted birds: Phalcoboenus carunculatus, Muscixicola alpinus, and the hummingbird, Oreotrochilus chimborazo.
Additional biodiversity: Few important biodiversity, endangered of extinction globally and poorly know. Emblematis species, like: Andean Condor. Polylepis reticulata, The localized and disjunct race latreillii of Attagis gayi. Plus, endangered and restricted reptiles, such as: the globally endangered (EN), Riama cashcaensis and the geographically restricted, Stenocercus cadlei. Also, the endangered rain frog, Pristimantis gentryi or the rodent Sigmodon inopinatus that have not been reported since their historical collections in the KBA.
Manageability of the site: “The Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve (RPFCH) was created with Ministerial Agreement No. 437 of October 26, 1987 and published in Official Registry No. 806 of November 9 of the same year (MAE, 2014).”
Delineation rationale: It follows the official limits of the reserve designated by the government via the environmental national authority (Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition). The WDPA code is: 32717.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 65 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Main threats: intensive agricultural activities in the KBA (some non permitted). Burning of paramo grasslands and the uncontrollable burning previous to plant crops. Free roaming of cattle for dairy production (livestock) and bulls for bull fighting. Non native forestry monocultures and plantations (e.g., eucalyptus, pines and cypresses). Certain types of mining (quarries) and extraction of black soil for the agricultural industry is a continuous threat.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Paul Tito manager of the Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve which is part of the National System of Protected Areas. P. Tito is an official of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition. Tito and rangers monitored the fauna and flora of this high Andean reserve.