Paramos de Guantiva y la Rusia Distritos Regionales de Manejo Integrado (14504)
Colombia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1e, B1, B2

Year of last assessment: 2025

National site name: Paramos de Guantiva y la Rusia Distritos Regionales de Manejo Integrado

Central coordinates: Latitude: 6.1498, Longitude: -73.0245

System: terrestrial, freshwater

Elevation (m): 1700 to 4000

Area of KBA (km²): 1404.81581

Protected area coverage (%): 97.65

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Paramo de Guantiva y La Rusia is located within the jurisdiction of the 10 municipalities between the departments of Santander (Charala, San Joaquin, Mogotes, Onzaga, Coromoro, Gambita and Encino) and Boyaca (Duitama, Santa Rosa de Viterbo and Sotaquira), Colombia, with an area of 1404km2. It is part of the oak (Quercus humboldtii) corridor of the Eastern Cordillera. The area is covered by forests, although in some areas, there are small pastures and naturally regenerating shrublands. Some sectors are dedicated to agriculture and livestock farming, and some streams and creeks are used for fishing and water management. In general, the local people and entities involved in the area are committed to conserving the ecosystems found there because they play a significant role in water regulation in the region and harbor a great variety of flora and fauna typical of the high Andean forest.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This area is important for the conservation of many species that triggered some KBA criteria as follows: the species Atelopus monohernandezii, Atelopus mittermeieri, and Pristimantis spilogaster triggered criteria A1e and B2, while Rheobates palmatus triggered criterion B2 and Pristimantis acutirostris triggered criterion B2. On the other hand, Espeletia incana and Coeligena prunellei triggered criteria A1b and B2, Espeletia congestiflora and Espeletia boyacensis triggered criterion B1, Atlapetes albofrenatus triggered criterion B2, Macroagelaius subalaris triggered criteria A1a and B2, Odontophorus strophium triggered criteria A1b, B1, and B2, Sphagnum santanderense triggered criterion A1e, Magnolia virolinensis triggered criteria A1a and B1, and Erythroxylum riverae triggered criterion A1e.

Manageability of the site: Managed by different entities like Parques Nacionales Naturales of Colombia, CORPOBOYACA and local communities

Other site values: No documented presence of indigenous community

Delineation rationale: This area follows the boundaries of Páramos de Guantiva y La Rusia Integrated Management Regional Districts also covering the area inside this IMRD that is occupied by Guanentá Alto Río Fonce Flora and Fauna Sanctuary.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Aquatic		Rural Gardens
Artificial - Aquatic		Water Storage Areas [over 8 ha]
Forest		Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane
Artificial - Aquatic		Plantations

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main issues in the area are deforestation for firewood collection and burning for the implementation of agricultural and livestock systems.

Additional information