Farallones de Cali Natural National Park (14437)
Colombia, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1d, A1e, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Parque Nacional Natural Farallones de Cali
Central coordinates: Latitude: 3.4003, Longitude: -76.8536
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 200 to 4100
Area of KBA (km2): 1964.25959
Protected area coverage (%): 99.96
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Farallones de Cali National Natural Park is located on the axis of the Western Cordillera in the department of Valle, within the jurisdiction of Cali, Jamundí, Dagua and Buenaventura. Anchicayá is located in the municipality of Dagua, Valle del Cauca department. The old Buenaventura-Cali highway crosses subtropical forests and from the town of El Danubio (km 60), a road connects 10 km to the south towards the Alto Anchicayá hydroelectric plant. The Anchicayá area is fully protected within the Los Farallones National Natural Park, and the hydroelectric plant provides excellent access to the subtropical primary forests present in the area. The ecosystems of the Park are humid jungle, tropical forest, cloud forest and páramo; The habitats are mainly cloudy montane and Andean forests. The Farallones de Cali are part of the biogeographical provinces Chocó-Magdalena and Norandina (Hérnandez-Camacho 1992a, b, Castaño-Uribe and Cano 1998).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site is important for the conservation of 15 species that triggered some KBA criteria. Four amphibians triggered A1 criteria (Atelopus pictiventris, Silverstoneia nubicola, Pristimantis deinops and Pristimantis capitonis); seven species of birds triggered some KBA criterion, one of them triggered A1b (Chloropipo flavicapilla) and the rest of them triggered B2 (Margarornis stellatus, Habia cristata, Chlorophonia flavirostris, Chlorochrysa nitidissima, Iridosornis porphyrocephalus and Semnornis ramphastinus); one mammal triggered the A1b criteria (Balantiopteryx infusca); two plants triggered B1 or B2 criteria (Gaultheria oreogena and Themistoclesia compta), plants triggered A1e (Dendropanax glaberrimus and Symplocos pichindensis) and Zamia amplifolia triggered A1a.
Additional biodiversity: Before called Los Farallones National Natural Park - Valle Pichindé. The diversity of thermal floors that exist in the Park and that go from 200 to 4,100 meters above sea level, facilitate the existence of innumerable forms of life. The Farallones are inhabited by various species of mammals, from small bats to pumas, margays, foxes and spectacled bears, among others. The birds are the queens of the place, it is estimated that there are about 700 species, some of them are in that area. Some relevant reptiles have been recorded in the site: Anolis eulaemus, Anolis macrolepis, and Anolis notopholis.
Manageability of the site: The management of this KBA and the conservation actions are exercised by National Natural Parks. There are human settlements inside the polygon and they have always been there because it is one of the oldest National Parks in Colombia, and most of the local communities participate in the conservation of the area. Local communities are committed to the conservation of the species and their habitats and it is fundamental that these communities are part of the KBA.
Other site values: Currently, the Park is inhabited by a group of indigenous Cholos from the Chocó (Emberás) group, who occupies the lower parts of the rivers that flow into the Pacific.
Delineation rationale: The limits of this KBA are given by the area and limits of the Farallones de Cali National Natural Park. Local communities are committed to the conservation of the species and their habitats, and some of the trigger species may use agricultural lands and gardens to move through the landscape, find food resources during the dry season, and even search for nest materials.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The ecosystems of the park are humid jungle, tropical forest, cloud forest, and páramo; the habitats are mainly cloudy mountain and Andean forests. The Farallones de Cali are part of the biogeographical provinces Chocó-Magdalena and Norandina (Hernández-Camacho 1992a, b, Castaño-Uribe and Cano 1998).
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 45 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland |
| Shrubland | 1 | Shrubland – Subtropical/tropical high altitude |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 5 | Plantations |
| Forest | 8 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical dry |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 1 | Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 5 | Rural Gardens |
| Forest | 30 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 5 | Urban Areas |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats to the Park are especially present in the municipalities of Cali and Jamundí, due to forest fires. Additionally, there is an extractive use of natural resources, especially trees and capote land, through logging, clearing, and land preparation; as well as artisanal gold mining, subsistence hunting, and extraction of animal species and ornamental plants for trade. In other areas, there are adaptations for agricultural and livestock activities. Small drug crops are reported in hard-to-reach areas with public order problems. The communities living in the Park use the water resources, which are wasted and contaminated with organic waste. There is pressure from industrial sectors for the construction of hydroelectric projects and proposals to pave the roads surrounding the Park. With regard to the existing hydroelectric plants in the area, in recent years there have been activities to clean up accumulated sludge, which have caused disasters to the aquatic fauna and flora present in the Anchicayá river. Within the Park, there are indigenous settlements (which wish to form reserves), as well as peasants and Afro-descendants.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | War, civil unrest & military exercises | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Sewage | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Intentional use: large scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Alexander von Humboldt Institute
Ryan Hills (BGCI)