Cordillera del Cóndor (14602)
Ecuador, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1d, A1e, B1, B2, B3a, B3b

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Cordillera del Cóndor

Central coordinates: Latitude: -3.8550, Longitude: -78.5310

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 780 to 2360

Area of KBA (km²): 1028.37397

Protected area coverage (%): 3.59

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This KBA comprise one of the most important and endangered amazonian ecosystems which are unique in the entire planet. All the different altitudinal ecosystem variants of the Cóndor-Kutukú Cordilleras are present here, as follows: Evergreen foothill, lower montane evergreen and montane evergreen of the Cóndor-Kutukú mountain ridges. Moreover, the rarest and restricted, lower montane, montane and foothill evergreen forests from the sandstone plateaus of the Cóndor-Kutukú mountain ridges. Finally, because these rare ecosystem rise in the middle of the southern Amazon of Ecuador, these are surrounded by foothill evergreen forests settled on limestone outcrops of the amazonian ridges. Altitudinal range: 780 - 2360 m

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. 48 species meets the thresholds of the KBA criteria. The most relevant are threatened of extinction species as follows: Globally threatened of extinction amphibians (Critically endangered and endangered): Pristimantis barrigai (A1a, A1e, B2 ); Centrolene condor (A1a, B2); Noblella lochites (A1a, B2); Centrolene charapita (A1a, B2); Excidobates condor (A1a, B2); Pristimantis yantzaza (A1a, B2); Chiasmocleis parkeri (A1a, B2). Moreover, birds, amphians and reptiles vulnerable to the extinction: Pyrrhura albipectus (A1b, B1); Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron (A1b, B1, B2); Allobates fratisenescus (A1b, B1, B2); Excidobates captivus (A1b, B2); Hemiphractus bubalus (A1b, A1d, B2), Callimedusa ecuatoriana (A1b, B1, B2), Pristimantis proserpens (A1b, B2); Enyalioides rubrigularis (A1b, B2), Anolis podocarpus (A1b, B1, B2); Lynchius simmonsi (A1b, B1, B2). Additionally, this KBA albergate range restricted, near threatened or recently described species, the rodent Thomasomys pardignasi (B1) is one of those.

Additional biodiversity: Panthera onca. Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron, Caenolestes Sangay

Manageability of the site: A small national protected area named El Zarza (36.96 Km2) and the Cordillera del Cóndor protected forest are located in the KBA. These areas together with the Shuar ancestral amazonian nationality territories can administrate or manage the KBA in association with local governments and the ministry of environment, water and ecological transition including the support of international organisms.

Other site values: This region is part of the territories of Shuar Amazonian Ancestral Nation of Ecuador.

Delineation rationale: It follows the limits of adequate habitat and record sites of the trigger species of this KBA. On east, the border with Peru. On southeast, Nangaritza River and towns and villages as follows: Paquizha, Guayzimi, Los Encuentros, El Pangui and Tundayme. North, the straight line that divides Zamora-Chinchipe and Morona Santiago provinces.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	90	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Pollution	Industrial & military effluents	Seepage from mining	Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Persecution/control	Only in the future
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Other ecosystem modifications		Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Shifting agriculture	Ongoing
Pollution	Industrial & military effluents	Type Unknown/Unrecorded	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