Colonso-Chalupas Biological Reserve (100339)
Ecuador, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Colonso-Chalupas
Central coordinates: Latitude: -0.8802, Longitude: -78.0509
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 700 to 4300
Area of KBA (km2): 929.89225
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: This KBA is located between the highlands and the pristine mountain forests of the eastern slope of the Andes (Amazon Basin) between the 700 - 4300m. The main ecosystems are: Upper montane, montane, foothill, and low montane evergreen forest of the North of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes and the Páramo Grasslands on the upper region just near the eastern face of Cotopaxi volcano region.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least there criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs (A1, B1 and B2).
Range restricted hummingbirds of the eastern slope of the Andes, like: Urochroa leucura, Urosticte ruficrissa, Campylopterus villaviscensio and a Pygmy-Owl, Glaucidium parkeri. Moreover, three globally endangered and restricted amphibians: Pristimantis cremnobates, Nymphargus laurae, and Osornophryne simpsoni. Plus, the vulnerable, Pristimantis eriphus among four range restricted reptiles: Synophis bogerti, Tropidophis cacuangoae, Gelanesaurus flavogularis and, Anolis fitchi.
Additional biodiversity: Panthera onca, Vultur gryphus, Tremarctos ornatus, Tapirus pinchaque, Military macaw, Spizaetus ornatus, Aoutus lemurinus
Manageability of the site: This is a biological reserve included in the national system of protected areas and administrated by the environmental authority of Ecuador.
Supersedes another site: Cordillera de Guacamayos-San Isidro-Sierra Azul (14632).
Other site values: In this KBA certain regions are part of the Kichwa Amazonian nationality of Napo province
Delineation rationale: Colonso Chulapas is located within national protected areas. On north the Antisana National Park. On south, Llanganates National Park, forming a natural corridor in the upper reaches of the Amazon basin. On west, the Cotopaxi National Park. On east, the secondary forests and remnants of the towns of Pangayacu, Archidona, Cotundo and Muyuna.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 80 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 10 | Wetlands (inland) – Permanent rivers/streams/creeks (includes waterfalls) |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Geological events | Volcanoes | Only in the future |
Additional information
Contributors: Experts from Instituto Nacional de la Biodiversidad. Experts on different taxonomic groups (independent and from institutions) that attended KBA's workshops.