Maquipucuna-Río Guayllabamba-Pululahua (100364)
Ecuador, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1d, B1, B2, B3a
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Maquipucuna-Río Guayllabamba-Pululahua
Central coordinates: Latitude: 0.1416, Longitude: -78.5500
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1080 to 3470
Area of KBA (km2): 479.09959
Protected area coverage (%): 7.17
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: This KBA covers the transition of the arid central Andean valley and the mountains and foothill forests of the Choco-Andean region of the Guayllabamba river upper basin. Located entirely on northwest Pichincha province on altitudinal range from 3450 to 1100 m. The main ecosystems are: the semi-deciduous forest and shrubland of the northern dry Andean valleys at Pululahua and the massive extensions of montane, lower montane and foothill evergreen forests of the western slope of the Andes.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least five criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Threatened of extinction and range restricted species, like: Pristimantis actites (A1b, B2); Pristimantis mindo (A1a, B2); Pristimantis pteridophilus (A1a, B2); Pristimantis pyrrhomerus (A1a, B2); Pristimantis calcarulatus (A1b, B2); Pristimantis eremitus (A1b, B2); Pristimantis eugeniae (A1a, B2); Pristimantis vertebralis (A1b, B2); Glaucidium nubicola (A1b, A1d, B2); Puya aequatorialis (A1b); Macleania ericae (A1b); Echinosaura brachycephala (A1a, B2); Riama colomaromani (A1a, B2); Riama oculata (A1a); Riama unicolor (A1b) and Dipsas elegans (A1b).
Plus range restricted flora and fauna under B1 and B2 criteria, like: Eriocnemis luciani (B2); Urosticte benjamini (B2); Scytalopus vicinior (B2); Grallaria flavotincta (B2); Megascops colombianus (B2); Heliangelus strophianus (B2); Sphenopsis ochracea (B1, B2); Astroblepus theresiae (B1); Pristimantis illotus (B2); Pristimantis appendiculatus (B2); Anolis aequatorialis (B2); Atractus dunni (B2); Aglaiocercus coelestis (B2); Alopoglossus viridiceps (B1, B2); Andigena laminirostris (B2); Atlapetes crassus (B2); Cyanolyca pulchra (B2); Odontophorus melanonotus (B2); Bryconamericus simus (B1); Coeligena wilsoni (B2); Dendropsophus carnifex (B2); Eriocnemis luciani (B2); Urochroa bougueri (B2); Riama yumborum (B2) and Tangara lunigera (B2).
Additional biodiversity: Tremarctos ornatus. Spizaetus isidori. Hyloxalus maquipucuna (not seen since last collection in 2007). Puma concolor. Semnornis ramphastinus.
Manageability of the site: Private reserves like Maquipucuna and Santa Lucia Reserve plus the protected forest of the upper basin of Guayllabamba river. It is part of the biosphere reserve of the northwest choco-andean region of Pichincha. Including the geobotanical reserve, Pululahua administrated by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition.
Supersedes another site: Maquipucuna-Río Guayllabamba (14534)
Other site values: NA
Delineation rationale: This KBA was extended to cover the Pululahua geobotanic reserve that is attached to this previous KBA. The limits are: On east the mosaic of agricultural valleys of San José de Minas and the remnants of forests and vegetation of the interandean dry valley of Pichincha. On south, Calacali town and agricultural areas and the main road to Nanegalito. On west all the agricultural and cattle pasture areas of Nanegal in Pichincha and Selva Alegre in Imbabura. On north this KBA meets the Guayllabamba river.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 8 | Shrubland – Subtropical/tropical high altitude |
| Forest | 75 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | 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 |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Sewage | Ongoing |
| Other options | Other threat | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: QCAZ-Herpetofauna Universidad Católica del Ecuador
Instituto Nacional de la Biodiversidad (INABIO)
Experts participants in the KBA's workshop on birds and freshwater fishes.
And expert botanists curators from herbariums (National Herbarium)