Cuchilla de San Lorenzo (14418)
Colombia, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Cuchilla de San Lorenzo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 11.1500, Longitude: -73.9900
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 600 to 2800
Area of KBA (km2): 439.2794
Protected area coverage (%): 1.72
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Cuchilla de San Lorenzo is located in the municipality of Santa Marta, department of Magdalena, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta covers part of the departments of Magdalena, La Guajira and César, and is the highest coastal mountain range in the world. It has a wide altitudinal range, which in a linear distance of only 28 km, covers a complete spectrum of life zones from sea level to snow level. This mountainous massif is mostly composed of batholiths from the Jurassic (162-177 million years). Six life zones are found in this area: lowland humid forest (0-1,050 m), premontane humid forest (1,050-1,900 m), páramo (3,400-4,200 m), superpáramo (4,200-5,100 m) and belt of snow (5,100-5,770 m). The average annual temperature at sea level is 27º C, while at the top of the mountains it drops to 0º C. Annual precipitation is 3,000-4,000 mm and decreases with altitude. The dry season runs from October to November and from June to July. The San Lorenzo mountain range extends from the town of Minca (600 m), through an extensive area of shade-grown coffee plantations, to the edge of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park. It covers a series of private lands in which agriculture predominates, but with areas of forest and steep elevations. Most of the endemic species are concentrated in the upper parts of the San Lorenzo blade and Kennedy Hill, a steep spur that rises above the region up to 2,800 m. Kennedy Hill presents forested patches, dominated mainly by bamboo and shrubs. This is one of the best areas of Santa Marta to observe endemic and rare species, as it has 15 endemic bird species, constituting one of the highest concentrations of endemism on the continent. Coffee plantations and pasture for cattle (70%) are predominant in the area; however, the extension of forests increases with altitude, from 1,800 m.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This area it's important for the conservation of 16 species. 6 amphibians species triggered some KBA criteria: Geobatrachus walkeri triggered A1a and B2, Colostethus ruthveni, Cryptobatrachus boulengeri, Ikakogi tayrona, Pristimantis tayrona and Cryptobatrachus ruthveni only triggered B2; 8 birds species triggered only the B2 criteria: Odontophorus atrifrons, Clibanornis rufipectus, Synallaxis fuscorufa, Myiotheretes pernix, Anisognathus melanogenys, Grallaria bangsi, Myiothlypis conspicillata and Pyrrhura viridicata; and only two reptiles triggered B2 criteria: Anolis solitarius and Anadia pulchella.
Manageability of the site: The Cuchilla of San Lorenzo is managed by Corporación Autónoma Regional del Magdalena - CORPAMAG.
Delineation rationale: This area was delineated following the area below the road Santa Marta - Riohacha, to the west following the bordes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Habitats
Land use: Land use is currently distributed as follows: Forest in 81-90% (Montane broadleaf evergreen forest | Second-growth or disturbed forest), Artificial - Terrestrial (Arable land) in 11-20% .
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Aquatic | Plantations | |
| Forest | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland |
Additional information
Contributors: Alexander von Humboldt Institute