Punchiná Reservoir and its protection zone (14406)
Colombia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: B2

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Embalse de Punchiná y su zona de protección

Central coordinates: Latitude: 6.2327, Longitude: -74.8755

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 200 to 800

Area of KBA (km²): 43.07923

Protected area coverage (%): 99.99

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Punchiná reservoir is located 80 km from Medellín on the eastern slope of the Central Mountain Range in the municipality of San Carlos, Department of Antioquia. The reservoir covers about 50% of the entire KBA, while the rest is covered by secondary tropical forests (40%), which have been regenerating since 1982, and by pastureland (10%). The entire area is used for nature conservation and research and for water management for power generation. The reservoir is owned by ISAGEN, which has made great efforts to promote conservation and research activities in the area. This KBA is included in the Punchiná Regional Protected Forest Reserve. AGREEMENT No. 264 Of November 22, 2011 Through which the Punchiná Regional Protective Forest Reserve is delimited, reserved and declared with an area of 2,804.27 hectares, in the sub-region Aguas del Oriente Antioqueño, municipality of San Carlos, Juan XXIII, Juanes, La Garrucha, La Holanda, Paraguas, Patio Bonito, Peñol Grande, Puerto Garza-Narices, Santa Bárbara and Tinajas.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The main reason for the nomination of this KBA are the species Epicrionops parkeri (Parker's Caecilian) and Sachatamia electrops, two amhibian and threatened species classified as Vulnerable (VU) and Endangered by IUCN respectively. Criteria B2 met by both species.

Additional biodiversity: A total of 268 bird species have been recorded in the reservoir. Some endangered flora species have been recorded in the area, such as the Cumin (Aniba perulitis), the Sanquemula (Henrietella goudotiana), the Cirpe (Pouroma hirsutipetiolata), Calophyllum brasiliense and Ancistrothyrus sp. nov. Additionally, the presence of the marmoset Saguinus leucopus (VU) and the River Otter (Lontra longicaudis, DD) is known (Rodríguez et al., in press). This site may qualify as KBA given the occupational rank of White-mantled Barbet (Capito hypoleucus).

Manageability of the site: Management in this KBA is exercised by the environmental authority: Corporación Autónoma Regional de las cuencas de los ríos Rionegro y Nare (CORNARE) and ISAGEN. Futhermore, energy companies (such as ISAGEN) normally restrict the access to habitats around dams, and this ensures to some extent the conservation of trigger species.

Delineation rationale: This KBA follows the limits of the Punchina Regional Protected Forest Reserve.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	84.93	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland
Artificial - Aquatic	4.9	Plantations
Artificial - Aquatic	8.9	Aquaculture Ponds
Grassland	0.32	Grassland – Subtropical/tropical high altitude

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing

Additional information