Moromoro-Buenaventura-Santa Rosa (100369)
Ecuador, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

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

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Moromoro-Buenaventura-Santa Rosa

Central coordinates: Latitude: -3.6385, Longitude: -79.8630

System: terrestrial, freshwater

Elevation (m): 100 to 2380

Area of KBA (km²): 556.48124

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: No

Site details

Site description: This KBA protects and covers the vegetation and landscape connectivity of El Oro province cloud-forests and foothills. The last habitat remnants of the southern end of the Chocó-Andean region mixed with tumbesian ecosystems converge here. Ecuadorian endemic birds and amphibians are present here plus recently described species of plants (E.g., Magnolia buenaventurae) including of species of plants that needs to be rediscovered. This KBA also involves rivers' connectivity with wetlands of El Oro province lowlands. The altitudinal range goes from 100 to 2350 m. The ecosystems are: seasonal foothill and lowlands evergreen forests of the western slope of the Andes mixed with the equatorial southwestern slope ecosystems.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least six criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Threatened of extinction species like the globally threatened: Nymphargus buenaventura (A1a); Pyrrhura orcesi (A1a); Pseudastur occidentalis (A1a); Scytalopus robbinsi (A1a); Pristimantis hampatusami (A1a); Cebus aequatorialis (A1a, A1c). Moreover, vulnerable species as follows: Brotogeris pyrrhoptera (A1b, A1d), Enyalioides touzeti (A1b), Lathrotriccus griseipectus (A1b, B2); Leptotila ochraceiventris (A1d) and Pachyramphus spodiurus (A1b, A1d, B2). Plus, several range restricted bird species (6) and five (5) recently described herps that are under taxonomic review.

Additional biodiversity: Puma concolor, Neocrex colombiana, Magnolia buenaventurensis, Buteogallus solitarius. Several Chocó endemic bird species. And tens of endangered, restricted and endemic orchids that the UICN doesn't recognize .

Manageability of the site: This region has been proposed as a conservation corridor initiative by the provincial government with the support of conservation NGOs like Naturaleza y Cultura Internacional. Here several protected forests, municipal reserves and private reserves like Buenaventura from Jocotoco foundation are included.

Supersedes another site: Reserva Buenaventura (14526).

Delineation rationale: On north the KBA Cerro Azul southern limits. On northwest and west, the agricultural fields of Playón and other regions approaching Arenillas county, San Luis, El Bunque. On south, the agricultural landscape continues, here the agricultural lands and cattle pastures of Marcabeli and Balsas counties are present. Over the east, the region of patches of secondary forest remnants, agricultural areas and cattle pastures of Piñas, Ayapamba and Atahualpa counties.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	40	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland
Artificial - Aquatic	10	Urban Areas
Artificial - Aquatic	30	Rural Gardens
Wetlands(Inland)	5	Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes (over 8 ha)

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Tourism & recreation areas		Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Wood & pulp plantations	Small-holder plantations	Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Renewable energy		Ongoing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing
Pollution	Domestic & urban waste water	Sewage	Ongoing
Pollution	Garbage & solid waste		Ongoing
Pollution	Agricultural & forestry effluents	Nutrient loads	Ongoing

Additional information