Bosque Petrificado de Puyango (14536)
Ecuador, South America

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1dB2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Bosque Petrificado de Puyango
Central coordinates: Latitude: -3.8698, Longitude: -80.0612
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 310 to 930
Area of KBA (km2): 26.787763
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: This KBA is a mosaic of tumbesian ecosystems and agricultural areas with ecological functionality, the main ecosystems are the seasonal evergreen montane foothill forest from southwest Ecuador and the deciduous forest of the ecuadorian southwest lowlands. Located between Loja and El Oro provinces, this area is world know for the petrified plants, trees and fauna. The altitude goes from 310 to 930 m.
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. Range restricted fauna from the tumbesian forests, such as the amphibians: Engystomops puyango (B2), Engystomops randi (B2) and Lithobates bwana (B2). Endemic and endangered parakeet, Brotogeris pyrrhoptera (A1d)
Additional biodiversity: Puma concolor, Stenocercus puyango, Pseudastur occidentalis scarce records of Crocodylus acutus.
Manageability of the site: Since 2017 a public consortium for the administration and management of this KBA was made public in the National Official Registry number 931. The decentralized autonomous provincial governments of Loja and El Oro, and two municipalities, Puyango and Las Lajas signed and agreement for the Management and Administration of the Puyango Petrified Forest. The ministry of tourism acted as the honorary witness of this official agreement. This public agreement have a duration period of 20 years since it was made official.
Delineation rationale: The new shape covers the entire Puyango petrified forests and surroundign areas to included important trigger species. On north the towns of El Tigre, la Victoria and Valle Hermoso. Towards the east, the road between El Tigre and Cochas de Ciano. On south agricultural areas of Monte Guaycu. On west, the borders agricultural Ecuadorian near the borders with Peru.

Habitats


Land use: Agricultural areas (small) and domestic animals (goats).
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Forest50Forest – Subtropical/tropical dry

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Agriculture & aquacultureAnnual & perennial non-timber cropsSmall-holder farmingOngoing
Energy production & miningMining & quarryingOngoing
Agriculture & aquacultureLivestock farming & ranchingNomadic grazingOngoing
Biological resource useHunting & collecting terrestrial animalsPersecution/controlOngoing
Human intrusions & disturbanceRecreational activitiesOngoing
Natural system modificationsFire & fire suppressionTrend Unknown/UnrecordedOngoing
PollutionIndustrial & military effluentsSeepage from miningOngoing
PollutionDomestic & urban waste waterSewageOngoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesInvasive non-native/alien species/diseasesNamed speciesOngoing

Additional information


Contributors: Diego Armijos from Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). Instituto Nacional de la Biodiversidad (INABIO)