Mache-Chindul Ecological Reserve (14532)
Ecuador, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, A1e, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Reserva Ecológica Mache-Chindul
Central coordinates: Latitude: 0.4061, Longitude: -79.7932
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 10 to 690
Area of KBA (km2): 1200.37115
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This KBA is a national protected area which importance lies on being the southern limits of the Chocó humid lowlands. Located over the limits of Esmeraldas and Manabi provinces. In an altitudinal range that goes from 10 to 690m. The main ecosystems are, seasonal evergreen lower montane and foothill forests of the Chocó coastal cordillera. Including, the equatorial seasonal evergreen lowland forests of the Chocó.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least three criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Threatened of extinction species like: Aramides wolfi (A1b); Cebus aequatorialis (A1a, A1c); Cebus capucinus (A1d); Enyalioides oshaughnessyi (A1b); Geotrygon purpurata (A1a); Dipsas bobridgelyi (B1); Leptodactylus peritoaktites (A1a, A1c, B2); Tangara palmeri (B2); Leptophis bocourti (B2); Cephalopterus penduliger (A1b, A1d, B2); Ortalis erythroptera (A1b); Leucostethus bilsa (A1a, A1e, B2) and Alouatta palliata (A1d).
Additional biodiversity: Puma concolor.
Manageability of the site: This is a national protected area managed by the government. On the buffer zone and in the protected region of the KBA, the conservation organization FCAT (Tropical Andes Conservation Foundation) works in biological studies and conservation processes.
Delineation rationale: On north, the agricultural regions and forest remnants of San Enrique in Esmeraldas province. On west, similar deforested regions and agricultural fields and Mompiche region. On south, the KBA of the Jama Cordillera.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Aquatic | 20 | Rural Gardens |
| Forest | 30 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland |
| Forest | 20 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical dry |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 10 | Urban Areas |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Sewage | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | War, civil unrest & military exercises | Ongoing | |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Universidad Católica del Ecuador: Santiago Ron (amphibians), Omar Torres (reptiles)
Data of the national census of primates from southwest Ecuador and records of FCAT Reserve.
Participants in KBA workshops on birds, freshwater fishes and non-flying micromammals.