Fuquene, Cucunuba and Palacio Lake complex (14404)
Colombia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, D1a

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Complejo Lacustre de Fúquene, Cucunubá y Palacio

Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.2277, Longitude: -73.4599

System: terrestrial, freshwater

Elevation (m): 2540 to 2540

Area of KBA (km²): 191.935654

Protected area coverage (%): 99.99

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Fúquene Lagoon and the Cucunubá and Palacio wetland complex are located in the Ubaté-Chiquinquirá Valley, 100 km northeast of Bogotá (CAR and JICA 2000). The Fúquene Lagoon is one of the last and few witnesses of a great chain of lagoons that were found some 40,000 years ago in the Cundiboyacense highlands (Van der Hamen 1999). The origin of the lagoon is tectonic, it would have been represented to the north, by movements of the earth's crust, the Quaternary valley gave rise to the lagoon, this valley offers 2 characteristics: high degree of erosion and fertility of its sediments and the bottom is composed mainly of muddy clays (Valderrama, J. and Mosquera, A. 1979). The geology of the lagoon's area of influence, in the Fúquene and Susa valleys there are sedimentary rocks belonging to Cretaceous synclinal and alticline formations, oriented in the northeastern direction of the region (CAR 2000).in the plain around the lagoon there were open swamps and swampy forests with abundant alders (Alnus). The first partial deforestation began in indigenous times (3000 years ago), but it was after the conquest that the progressive destruction of the original forest began with the cattle ranching and agricultural methods imported from Spain. The increase in sediment transported by streams and rivers has increased the rate of sedimentation in the lagoon (Van der Hamen 1999). Its waters are used to irrigate 10,775 ha of cattle pastures and to supply the aqueduct of the city of Chiquinquirá (47,000 inhabitants) and of several rural aqueducts (5,000 users). The progressive draining for land use, the excessive use of water for irrigation and pollution caused mainly by livestock waste, have led Fúquene to a difficult environmental situation: its surface area has been reduced by 70% and aquatic vegetation now covers 95% of the ecosystem.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as KBA by meeting criteria A1, B1 and B2. Since this KBA is one of the most important sites for the conservation of the Apolinar's Wren (Cistothorus apolinari), a species considered ENDANGERED of extinction. And Bogotá Rail (Rallus semiplumbeus), a species considered VULNERABLE. The two species are ENDEMIC to the wetlands of the eastern mountain range of the Colombian Andes.

Additional biodiversity: This KBA has reported 227 bird species: https://ebird.org/region/BIRDLIFE_14404?yr=all. In addition, the Lagoon supports populations of three endemic fish species: Capitan de la Sabana (Eremophilus mutisii), Guapucha (Grundulus bogotensis) and the Captain dwarf (Trichomycterus bogotense). Additionally, there are two endemic species of crustaceans of the genus Hipolobocera.

Manageability of the site: This KBA is a protected area: Regional District of Integrated Management-DRMI Lagoon Complex of Fúquene, Cucunubá and Palacio, the management is combined between the owners of the reserves included in the DRMI and the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Cundinamarca-CAR.

Delineation rationale: The limits of this KBA are given by the areas and limits of the Regional District of Integrated Management-DRMI Lagoon Complex of Fúquene, Cucunubá and Palacio

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Aquatic	5	Water Storage Areas [over 8 ha]
Artificial - Aquatic	10	Urban Areas
Forest	5	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane
Wetlands(Inland)	20	Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks
Artificial - Aquatic	40	Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest
Wetlands(Inland)	20	Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes (over 8 ha)

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area of open water without vegetation in Lake Fúquene, recorded in 2003, is 325.53 hectares, representing only 10.84% of the total area. Since the 1960s, the depth has decreased by one meter, mainly due to excessive water use for irrigation and the appropriation of land for livestock. Just a few years ago, plants (Eichhornia crassipes and Egeria densa) and foreign fish (Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus) were introduced without any environmental criteria. Regarding fishing, there is already a fisheries management plan; however, the decrease in fishing is caused by environmental damage in the lagoon and only minimally by overexploitation. In terms of reed extraction, it has also been carried out without technical exploitation criteria, using methods such as controlled burns, which seriously affect the ecosystem. Hunting is carried out with very incipient social control. Nevertheless, there is existing legislation (Natural Resources Code, Law 2811) that establishes the proper management of hydrobiological resources and their control, but it has never been applied in the intended manner and with the necessary rigor.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming
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
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing

Additional information