Podocarpus National Park (14543)
Ecuador, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1d, A1e, B1, B2

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Parque Nacional Podocarpus

Central coordinates: Latitude: -4.2745, Longitude: -79.0067

System: terrestrial, freshwater

Elevation (m): 1160 to 3530

Area of KBA (km²): 1384.35145

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This KBA is located in one of the most iconic southern amazonian regions of Ecuador, the montane and paramo grasslands and the evergreen shrublands with upper montane, montane, foothill and low montane evergreen forest of the southeastern amazonian mountain ranges. Mountains covered with forests, intricate and corrugated ridges and cordilleras with paramos, lakes, waterfalls, creeks, rivers and rapids. The altitude goes from 1160 to 3530m

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least five criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. A total of 49 species trigger the KBA. The most relevant are threatened of extinction species, like the Critically Endangered frog: Pristimantis andinogigas (A1a, A1e, B2). The endangered fauna, like: Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops (A1a, B2); Gastrotheca psychrophila, Pristimantis percultus (A1a, B2); Pristimantis balionotus (A1a, B2); Macropholidus annectens (A1a, B2); Pristimantis chomskyi (A1a, B2) and Tapirus pinchaque (A1a). Moreover, endangered plants: Puya obconica (A1a, B2); Puya parviflora (A1a, B2) and Ceratostema lanceolatum (A1a, B2). And, one very localized endangered bird: Grallaria ridgelyi (A1a, B2). Additionally, vulnerable, near threatened and range restricted fauna and flora, like Aotus lemurinus (A1d); Tremarctos ornatus (A1d); Mazama rufina (A1b, A1d); Pristimantis muscosus (B1, B2); Tephrophilus wetmorei (B2); Pyrrhura albipectus (A1b, B2); Macleania mollis (A1b, B1); Macleania poortmannii (B1, B2); Pristimantis atratus (A1b, B1, B2); Pristimantis churuwiai (A1b, B2); Pristimantis cajanuma (B2); Nephelomyias lintoni (B2); Bothrops lojanus (A1b, B1, B2); Puya eryngioides (B2); Puya maculata (B2); Bejaria subsessilis (B1); Doliornis remseni (B2); Pristimantis sagedunneae (B1, B2); Pristimantis paladines (B1, B2); Pristimantis matildae (B1, B2); Pristimantis samaniegoi (B1, B2); Ceratostema oellgaardii (B1, B2); Xenerpestes singularis (B2) and Chilomys neisi (B1).

Additional biodiversity: Panthera onca, Spizaetus isidori, Puma concolor.

Manageability of the site: This is a National Park administrated by the government of Ecuador via the ministry of environment water and ecological transition (MAATE).

Delineation rationale: We follow the official limits assigned by the government of Ecuador for Podocarpus National Park. The WDPA shapefile is wrong and it doesn't fits with the official national layer.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	85	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Persecution/control	Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Dams & water management/use	Dams (size unknown)	Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Increase in fire frequency/intensity	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Marine & freshwater aquaculture	Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture	Ongoing

Additional information