Chachi Territory and Santiago, Cayapas-Canandé Rivers (100345)
Ecuador, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, A1e, B1, B2, B3a

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Territorio Chachi y Ríos Santiago-Cayapas-Canandé

Central coordinates: Latitude: 0.7114, Longitude: -78.9927

System: terrestrial, freshwater

Elevation (m): 20 to 1500

Area of KBA (km²): 2897.88335

Protected area coverage (%): 2.10

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: No

Site details

Site description: This KBA covers one of the best extensions of Chocó lowlands forest on northwest Ecuador of Esmeraldas province. The entire Chachi ancestral nation territories including private and public reserves. From Jocotoco Foundation's Canandé Reserve to Tesoro Escondido or Jevon Forest by WASHU and reserves of the national system of protected areas, El Pambilar and a portion of Canandé Reserve itself. This KBA is severely threatened by deforestation caused by timber enterprises and oil palm industry plus gold mining. The main chocoan ecosystems here, are: the equatorial Chocó lowlands evergreen forest and the foothill evergreen forest of the western slope of the ecuadorian northwest Andes. The altitudinal range goes from 20 to 1500 m.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least eight criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Currently, 50 species trigger the KBA. Important to mention the threatened of extinction species (plants, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, primates and birds), like the critically endangered species: Bolitoglossa chica (A1a, B2), Pristimantis chocoensis (A1a, B2), Ara ambiguus (A1a, A1c), Magnolia dixonii (A1a; A1e) and Magnolia canandeana (A1a, A1e). The endangered: Hyloxalus toachi (A1a, B2), Pristimantis tenebrionis (A1a, B2; B3a), Pristimantis degener (A1a, B2), Penelope ortoni (A1a, A1c), Neomorphus radiolosus (A1a, B2), Ateles fusciceps (A1a, A1c), Geotrygon purpurata (A1a), Hyloscirtus mashpi (A1a, B2), Enyalioides altotambo (A1a, B2), Pristimantis ornatissimus (A1a, B2), Corallus blombergi (A1a, B2), Magnolia striatifolia (A1a). The recently described rodent, Neacomys marci (B1). Furthermore, charismatic species of the Chocó region and west Ecuador, like the vulnerable and near threatened species: Cephalopterus penduliger (A1b, A1d); Cebus capucinus (A1b, A1d); Alouatta palliata (A1d); Enyalioides oshaughnessyi (A1b, B2); Theobroma gileri (A1b, B1); Echinosaura keyi (A1b, B2); Anolis parilis (A1b, B1, B2); Pristimantis cisnerosi (A1b, B1); Pristimantis colomai (A1b, B1, B2); Pristimantis rosadoi (A1b, B1, B2); Dacnis berlepschi (A1b, B2); Micrastur plumbeus (A1b, A1d); Pseudochalceus longianalis (A1b, B1, B2); Sicydium rosenbergii (B1, B2); Hypostomus annectens (A1b, B2); Paracetopsis esmeraldas (B2) among other range restricted or data deficient species.

Additional biodiversity: Panthera onca; Harpia harpyja; Puma concolor.

Manageability of the site: This KBA is administrated by the National Government, NGOs and chocoan nationalities like Chachis where corresponds. Moreover, the prefecture of Esmeraldas province is planning to create a conservation and sustainable use are that -coincidentally- match almost exactly than the KBA.

Supersedes another site: Cayapas-Santiago-Wimbí (14615); Verde-Ónzole-Cayapas-Canandé (14614); Corredor Awacachi (14578).

Other site values: The Chachi Ancestral Nation president (Santiago de la Cruz) request in a personal conversation with Manuel Sánchez (KBA Coordination in Ecuador) to evaluate and considered the Chachis's Territories as a KBA.

Delineation rationale: On north the limits are with oil palm plantations, farms, small plantations; cattle pastures, small towns and villages. E.g., Timbiré, San Francisco de Ónzole, Anchayacu. On west and south, plantations, farms, cattle pastures and remnants of native vegetation plus wood monoculture of timber industry. However, on west and south west, the Cotacachi-Cayapas National Park lower region.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	70	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Wood & pulp plantations	Agro-industry plantations	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Wood & pulp plantations	Small-holder plantations	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Persecution/control	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	War, civil unrest & military exercises		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Other ecosystem modifications		In the past but now suspended and likely to return
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Intentional use: large scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Pollution	Agricultural & forestry effluents	Herbicides and pesticides	Ongoing

Additional information