Embalse de San Lorenzo y Jaguas (14411)
Colombia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, B1, B2

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Embalse de San Lorenzo y Jaguas

Central coordinates: Latitude: 6.4000, Longitude: -75.0300

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 955 to 1250

Area of KBA (km²): 51.12676

Protected area coverage (%): 99.99

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The San Lorenzo reservoir is located 60 linear kilometers from Medellin on the eastern slope of the Central Mountain Range, in the municipality of San Roque, Antioquia department. The reservoir covers approximately 50% of the entire Important Bird Area (IBA), while the rest is covered by secondary tropical forests (40%), which have been regenerating since 1982, and grasslands (10%). The entire area is dedicated to the conservation and research of nature and the management of water for electricity generation. The reservoir is owned by the company ISAGEN, which has made significant efforts to promote conservation and research activities in the area. The reservoir has recorded 192 bird species by the Antioquia Ornithological Society and P. Velásquez and A. V. Ayala (in litt.). Notable species present include the White-mantled Barbet (Capito hypoleucus), the Yellow-eared Parrot (Pionopsitta pyrilia), and Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster (Renjifo et al. 2002). The site possibly hosts populations of species from the North South American biome, but information on this matter could not be collected.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This area it's important for the conservation of three threatened and range-restricted amphibian species. Sachatamia electrops triggered the A1a, B1 and B2 criteria; Hyloxalus ramosi and Pristimantis jaguensis triggered only the B2 criteria.

Additional biodiversity: In the area, the presence of some threatened plant species has been recorded, such as the Comino (Aniba perulitis), Sanquemula (Henrietella goudotiana), Cirpe (Pouroma hirsutipetiolata), Calophyllum brasiliense, Pasto Varnish (Elaegia pastoense), Dormilón (Vochysia ferruginea), and Ancistrothyrus sp. nov. Additionally, there is knowledge regarding the presence of the White-footed Tamarin (Saguinus leucopus, VU) and the River Otter (Lontra longicaudis, DD) (Rodríguez et al., in press).

Manageability of the site: The reservoir is considered a Special Management Zone by CORNARE.

Delineation rationale: Limits of this KBA were stablished following the polygon of a protected area called San Lorenzo Regional Protective Forest Reserve

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Aquatic	14.65	Aquaculture Ponds
Wetlands(Inland)	12.1	Wetlands (inland) – Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens, peatlands
Artificial - Aquatic	6.6	Plantations
Forest	66.5	Forest – Subtropical/tropical dry

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]	Ongoing

Additional information