Río Caoní (14613)
Ecuador, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1b

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Río Caoní

Central coordinates: Latitude: 0.0724, Longitude: -79.1039

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 180 to 790

Area of KBA (km²): 190.18538

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This chocoan KBA is the best example and best bet on conservation where ecological integrity through the agricultural landscapes and remnants of forests still interconnected and biodiversity could thrive. Located in Pichincha province between the 180 and 790m. The main ecosystems are lowland evergreen forests of the Chocó and foothill evergreen forests of the western slope of the Andes. Agricultural landscapes, semi-industrial plantations of Palmito and oil palm, cattle pastures and villages.

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. Three threatened of extinction species meet the KBA threshold, A1b criterion: Dacnis berlepschi; Bothrops osbornei and Theobroma gileri.

Additional biodiversity: Gastrotheca cornuta, Aramides wolfi, Neomorphus radiolosus and several chocó endemic birds.

Manageability of the site: A private reserve (Rio Silanche) administrated by Mindo Cloud Forest Foundation and forest remnants that are conserved by locals. Part of this region is influenced by the conservation initiatives of the nearest regions like the biosphere reserve of El Chocó and Mindo. The apparent gaps between forest remnants and patches have been under a process of reconnection (via reforestation processes and the creation of protected areas). The municipal ordinance of 2021 by the Pedro Vicente Municipality designed the process to recover areas and create protected sites and corridors that involve and comprise the KBA region.

Delineation rationale: Surrounded by deforestation, agricultural landscapes and cattle pastures on north. On west, the same landscape from Puerto Quito region. On south, it does not improve, more agricultural fields and ranches. On east, the same deforested and agricultural landscapes from Pedro Vicente Maldonado municipality. This KBA was delineated to connect the recent records of trigger species and to support the process of reforestation and connectivity between natural vegetation.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	15	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland
Artificial - Aquatic	80	Urban Areas

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Other ecosystem modifications		Ongoing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]	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
Pollution	Domestic & urban waste water	Sewage	Ongoing
Pollution	Agricultural & forestry effluents	Herbicides and pesticides	Ongoing
Pollution	Garbage & solid waste		Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Wood & pulp plantations	Agro-industry plantations	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing

Additional information