Pacoa Wetlands (14607)
Ecuador, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Humedales de Pacoa
Central coordinates: Latitude: -2.1053, Longitude: -80.7409
System: marine
Elevation (m): 2 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 10.08975
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This coastal KBA is an artificial system of salt ponds in Santa Elena province that, is considered an important site for migratory shorebirds (stopover). Identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. Since 2007, this KBA is included in the catalog of important sites by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) The numbers of migratory shorebirds are between the most important in the Pacific region. Located -practically- at sea level up to 10 m.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. The highest congregations of Steganopus tricolor during boreal migration meets the D1a criterion. During surveys leaded by Aves y Conservation coastal program office, the counts during the years 2016 and 2017 exceeded the 1% of the global population of this species.
Additional biodiversity: Congregations of several shorebirds during boreal winter.
Manageability of the site: Administrated by Ecuasal S.A. Company. This place is an IBA (Important Bird Area) since 2003-2005. The Ecuasal Company is aware of the importance of their site for aquatic and shore birds and it is involved in monitoring and control. See: https://avesconservacion.org/gestion-del-sitio-ecuasal-santa-elena/
Other site values: Private area owned by a artificial salt company (Ecuasal).
Delineation rationale: It follows the original shape file or polygon of the IBA/KBA process. On west the shores of the Pacific Ocean. On South the outskirts of San Pablo Town. On east and north more artificial ponds and the private lands of Ecuasal S.A. Company.
Habitats
Land use: Private areas to produce salt
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Aquatic | 98 | Wastewater Treatment Areas |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Sewage | |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species |
Additional information
Contributors: Ana Ágreda. Aves y Conservación.