Tatama Natural National Park (14445)
Colombia, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Parque Nacional Natural Tatamá
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.0500, Longitude: -76.2000
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 2000 to 4200
Area of KBA (km2): 434.97991
Protected area coverage (%): 97.68
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Tatamá National Natural Park is located in the departments of Risaralda, Chocó and Valle del Cauca, between the foothills of the Pacific and the Cauca River. It is one of the areas of the Colombian Park System in the best state of conservation due to its inaccessibility in most of its territory. The types of vegetation present are the humid montane forest and the páramo. An outstanding characteristic of the ecological conformation is the presence of large glacial valleys between 2,800 and 3,400 m. The western foothills are very humid, with rainy cycles throughout the year, while the eastern foothills are very dry due to little seasonal rainfall from the Cauca river valley. Tatamá Park is located in the Norandina and Chocó-Magdalena biogeographic zones (Hernández-Camacho et al. 1992 a, b) and has a great variety of biomes due to the different thermal floors.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The Tatamá National Natural Park is home to several geographically restricted and threatened species that triggered any KBA status. Two birds species, Bangsia aureocincta and Bangsia melanochlamys both triggered A1b and B2 criteria. Also, two reptilian species triggered only B2 criteria: Anolis megalopithecus and Anolis danieli.
Additional biodiversity: The flora of the region is influenced by two biogeographic subregions: the Central Andean Forest with typically Andean characteristics and the Chocó biogeographic region. Vegetation is related to factors such as altitude, temperature, precipitation, and humidity. On the western slope, the wettest tropical region of the mountain range, species such as Elaegia utilis, Jacaranda hesperia, Inga pavonia, and Cecropia sp. stand out. In the sub-Andean region, you can find Alchornea sp., Cecropia sp., and Wettinia kalbreyeri. The Andean region includes important species like Clusia multiflora, Prunus integrifolia, and Brunelia sp. On the other hand, Chocó forests are characterized by species such as Oenocarpus bataua, Eschweilera pittieri, Brosimun utile, Mabea chocoensis, Matisia bullata, and Welfia regia. Revelant bird species include: Boissonneaua jardini, Chlorochrysa nitidissima, Chlorochrysa phoenicotis, Dysithamnus occidentalis, Grallaria flavotincta, Habia cristata, Iridosornis porphyrocephalus, Oreothraupis arremonops and Semnornis ramphastinus.
Manageability of the site: The Tatamá National Natural Park is managed by Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia.
Supersedes another site: Only new biodiversity was added to this KBA, so there was no change to its original boundaries.
Other site values: No recorded presence of any indigenous group
Delineation rationale: The area of this KBA was delineated using the boundaries of Tatamá Natural National Park stablished by Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Most than 70% of Tatamá is covered by forests, 20% by shrublands and less than 10% is covered by artificial landscapes.
Land use: Land use is currently distributed as follows: 16,775 hectares correspond to an intangible zone, which must be kept free of minimal human alterations, given the fragility of the paramuno ecosystems, so that the natural conditions are preserved in perpetuity. A little more than 35,000 hectares correspond to the primitive zone, which is an area that has not been altered or suffered human intervention in its natural structures. It is also an area that provides environmental services, among which the main one is water. Additionally, there is a natural recovery area and a general outdoor recreation area, the latter being a strip of land 3 m wide or a path for Environmental Education and Interpretation in various parts of the park.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 4.8 | |
| Forest | 71.4 | |
| Shrubland | 23.8 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Within the most prevalent issues in the area of the Tatamá Natural National Park are the presence of human settlements within the interior boundaries of the protected area, the expansion of agricultural and livestock farming into the eastern slope of the Western Mountain Range, ecosystem fragmentation, hunting associated with human settlements, illegal mining extraction, and the presence of illegal armed groups.
Additional information
Contributors: In the process of fulfilling the objectives of the KBAs update and nomination project, the Humboldt Institute has carried out workshops and individual consultations with experts from different areas.