Cayambe-Coca National Park (14610)
Ecuador, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, A1e, B1, B2, B3a
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Parque Nacional Cayambe-Coca
Central coordinates: Latitude: -0.0682, Longitude: -77.8224
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 500 to 5750
Area of KBA (km2): 4073.50031
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This national park is a valuable KBA for its quantity of water that feeds the rivers in the Amazon basin also feeds with freshwater the capital of Ecuador. Snowy mountains and montane vegetation mixed with paramo landscapes are the dominant view in this impressive KBA. Located between the limits of four provinces, Imbabura, Pichincha, Napo and Sucumbíos. On an altitudinal range from 500 to 5790 on top of Cayambe Mountain, the main ecosystems are: evergreen shrublands, paramo grasslands and paramo subnival ultra-humid grasslands. Moreover, upper montane, montane, lower montane and foothill evergreen forests of the northern slope of the Andes.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least eight criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. 50 Species trigger the KBA. The most representative are: Nymphargus siren (A1a, A1c, B2); Pristimantis lividus (A1a, B2); Osornophryne puruanta (A1a, A1e, B2); Spizaetus isidori (A1a); Pristimantis acerus (A1a, B2); Riama orcesi (A1b, B1, B2, B3a); Tephrophilus wetmorei (A1b, B2); Osornophryne guacamayo (A1b, B1, B2); Pristimantis devillei (A1a, B2); Pristimantis eriphus (A1b, B1, B2); Pristimantis gladiator (A1b, B1, B2); Pristimantis glandulosus (A1a, B2); Pristimantis incanus (A1a, B2); Pristimantis festae (A1a, B2); Atractus duboisi (A1a, B3a); Solanum minutifoliolum (A1a); Neomicroxus latebricola (A1a); Thomasomys ucucha (A1b, B1, B2); Aotus lemurinus (A1b, A1d); Tapirus pinchaque (A1a); Tremarctos ornatus (A1b, A1d); Mazama rufina (A1b, A1d).
Additional biodiversity: Vultur gryphus, Dolironis remseni, Touit stictopterus, Ara militaris.
Manageability of the site: National Park administrated by the environmental authority of Ecuador, Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition.
Other site values: NA
Delineation rationale: On south Papallacata river and agricultural areas of small towns and villages on the sides of the river. On east the Coca river. Northeast, Cabeno river. On north the Cofanes-Chingual region. On west the regions of the paramos, agricultural landscape and haciendas of Imbabura and Pichincha, mainly Cayambe region. Southwest, more haciendas near the capital like El Tablón or Mulauco and agricultural landscapes of Pichincha province.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 30 | Wetlands (inland) – Permanent rivers/streams/creeks (includes waterfalls) |
| Forest | 50 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane |
| Forest | 15 | 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 |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja: Diego Armijos, Diana Székely, Paul Székely (amphibians and reptiles)
Universidad Católica del Ecuador: Santiago Ron (amphibians), Omar Torres (reptiles)
Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad del Ecuador: Mario Yánez (amphibians and reptiles), Jorge Brito (mammals)
Symbiota - Open access database of the collections by the Instituto Nacional de la Biodiversidad (flora and certain fauna).
Universidad San Francisco de Quito: Carolina Reyes (amphibians and reptiles)
Jaime Palacios from Fundación Jocotoco and Cloudforest Organics
Dr. Nora Oleas (on Berberis)
Experts participating in the workshops about birds, amphibians, non-flying micromammals and freshwater fishes.