Sumaco-Napo-Galeras National Park (14608)
Ecuador, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, B1, B2, B3a

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Parque Nacional Sumaco-Napo-Galeras

Central coordinates: Latitude: -0.4638, Longitude: -77.5365

System: terrestrial, freshwater

Elevation (m): 380 to 3520

Area of KBA (km²): 2055.756966

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This KBA is a national park. The active Sumaco volcano dominates the view of this northern amazonian KBA. Located in the provinces of Napo and Orellana. Altitude: 400 to 3500m. This region dominated by foothill forests and montane regions is the home of rare, endemic and localized amazonian biodiversity. The main ecosystems are: evergreen upper montane, montane, lower montane, foothill forests of the northern slope of the Andes. The unique evergreen lower montane and foothill forests of the Galeras cordillera and on the summit area of the volcano, the grasslands and evergreen shrubs of the Sumaco.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least seven criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. 33 species trigger this KBA. Threatened of extinction species like: Ara militaris (A1d); Mazama rufina (A1b, A1d); Osornophryne guacamayo (A1b, B1, B2); Pristimantis ernesti (A1b, B1, B2); Tapirus pinchaque (A1a); Pristimantis eriphus (A1b, B2); Nymphargus siren (A1a, A1c, B2); Pristimantis inusitatus (A1a, B2); Osornophryne sumacoensis (A1b, B1, B2); Conopias cinchoneti (A1b); Ceratostema nodosum (A1b); Sericossypha albocristata (A1b) and Tinamus osgoodi (A1b, A1d, B2). Moreover 21 species meets the thresholds of range restricted and a considerable extension of distribution KBA criteria (B1 and B2).

Additional biodiversity: Tremarctos ornatus, Spizaetus isidori, Leopardus tigrinus, Panthera onca, Harpia harpyja.

Manageability of the site: This is a national park managed by the environmental authority of Ecuador, Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition.

Other site values: Parts of this National Park are territories of the amazonian kichwas of the Napo province.

Delineation rationale: Located on the northern part of the ecuadorian Amazon, covering the slopes and hills that surround Sumaco volcano, and headwaters of Hollín, Suno, Payamino and Pucuno rivers downstream, all tributaries of the Quijos or Coca river. As a complement, there is a small branch located south of the Sumaco volcano, the Napo Galeras mountain forested ridge. On north and west, Coca and Quijos rivers. Several forests of its own buffer zone. On south, the limits with forest of Kichwa Napo nationality and Avila settlement region. on west all the forest of Orellana province of Payamino region.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	70	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane
Forest	30	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing

Additional information