Cofán-Bermejo Ecological Reserve (14517)
Ecuador, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d, B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Reserva Ecológica Cofán-Bermejo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 0.3187, Longitude: -77.3167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 330 to 2790
Area of KBA (km2): 548.91447
Protected area coverage (%): 99.91
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This KBA is one of the most relevant for the northern amazonian cordillera of Ecuador. Located on far north Ecuador, it covers of the territory of Cofán Ancestral Amazonian Nationality. The altitudinal range of this KBA goes from 330 to 2790m. The main landscapes are a mixture of evergreen montane, lower montane and foothill forests of the northeastern slope of the Andes. Finally the lowland evergreen forests of the rivers Aguarico-Putumayo-Caquetá are present here, too. This region is one of the most important but poorly studied and explored the range restricted and endangered species of birds triggers this region as a KBA. However this is an unexplored gem for botanists and herpetologists.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least two criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Threatened of extinction and range restricted, like: Ara militaris (A1d); Schiffornis aenea (B2) and Urochroa leucura (B2)
Additional biodiversity: Tinamus osgoodi, Panthera onca, Harpia harpyja, Grallaria alleni
Manageability of the site: This is a national protected area and the territory of Cofán ancestral amazonian nation of Ecuador.
Other site values: This national reserve includes the territories of Cofán ancestral nationality of the Amazon.
Delineation rationale: It follows the limits of the official shape of the government (protected area) and fits with the KBA shape file. On north the borders with Colombia (Putumayo river). On east the regions of Bermejo and Santa Rosa de Sucumbios. South: the Bermejo river and areas of forest and Cofán territories affected by illegal mining. West: forest and secondary forest of the Chingual river towards La Bonita.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 45 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane |
| Forest | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Air-borne pollutants | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Excess energy | Noise pollution | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Oil & gas drilling | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Seepage from mining | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | War, civil unrest & military exercises | Ongoing | |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture | Ongoing |
| Other options | Other threat | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Expert ornithologists during KBA workshop on birds (2023)