Cotacachi-Cayapas National Park (14620)
Ecuador, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, B1, B2, B3b

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Parque Nacional Cotacachi-Cayapas

Central coordinates: Latitude: 0.5910, Longitude: -78.6574

System: terrestrial, freshwater

Elevation (m): 80 to 4630

Area of KBA (km²): 2607.36306

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This is the most important Choco-Andean KBA on northwest Ecuador. It is a national park and it is surrounded by several threats, but with efforts to protect its buffer zone. This KBA goes from the paramos and mountains of Imbabura province towards the northwest in Esmeraldas province in an impressive transition of cloudforests mountains and the Chocó lowlands forests. The altitudinal range goes from 4630 to 80 m. This region is full of ecuadorian endemic and Chocó-Andean endemic species. The main ecosystems are: upper montane, montane, foothills and lower montane evergreen forests of the western slope the Andes. Th evergreen forest of the Chocó lowlands. Paramo grasslands. Flooded paramo grasslands and evergreen shrubs and evergreen paramo grasslands.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance with 68 species that meets the thresholds for at least seven criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. The criteria are: A1a; A1b; A1c; A1d; B1; B2 and B3b. Based on the massive quantity of different species that triggers the KBA. We will mention the globally threatened ones and those fishes restricted to the freshwater neotropical and subtropical coastal rivers. Critically Endangered: Astroblepus ubidiai (A1a). Endangered: Osornophryne occidentalis (A1a, B2); Pristimantis cedros (A1a); Ateles fusciceps (A1a, A1c); Neomorphus radiolosus (A1a, B2); Eriocnemis nigrivestis (A1a, B2) and Penelope ortoni (A1a, A1c); Vulnerable: Pristimantis vertebralis (A1b, B2); Alouatta palliata (A1d); Cebus capucinus (A1b, A1d); Aramides wolfi (A1b); Glaucidium nubicola (A1b, A1d, B2); Grallaria alleni (A1b, B2); Bangsia flavovirens (A1b, B2); Dacnis berlepschi (A1b, B1, B2); Pristimantis hectus (A1b, B1, B2); Pristimantis eremitus (A1b, B2); Pristimantis laticlavius (A1b, B1, B2); Cephalopterus penduliger (A1b, A1d ); Micrastur plumbeus (A1b, A1d); Pseudochalceus longianalis (A1b, B1); Riama unicolor (A1a) and Theobroma gileri (A1b, B1). Species that meet the B3b criterion are only fishes restricted to the Santiago-Cayapas basin which is in the KBA plus fishes from headwaters and tributaries that born and intersect the KBA, some of these are near threatened and others poorly known, like: Andinoacara sapayensis (B1, B3b); Andinoacara blombergi (B1, B3b); Astroblepus regani (B3b); Astroblepus theresiae (B3b); Bryconamericus simus (B3b); Astroblepus whymperi (B3b); Sicydium rosenbergii (B3b) and (B1, B3b). Rest of the species (mostly birds) meets the B2 threshold on range restricted species criteria.

Additional biodiversity: Tremarctos ornatus, Puma concolor, Panthera onca, Tapirus pinchaque. Vultur gryphus. Spizaetus isidori. Harpia harpyja. Lonchophylla orcesi. Endemic species of the Chocó region.

Manageability of the site: This is a national park protected by the environmental authority of Ecuador, Ministry of Environment of Ecuador (MAATE).

Delineation rationale: This KBA follows the official limits of Cotacachi-Cayapas National Park. On north, the settlements and villages of El Dorado and El Placer. Northwest, the Chachis territories and Jocotoco foundation reserve and private forests. On far southwest, los Cedros and Manduriacu region. On far eastern side, San Francisco and La Primavera on the lower region and Cahuasqui and Imantag region on the upper zone. On south, the upper part with paramo grasslands and shrubs and Cuicocha lake. On west, the lower slops of Cotacachi volcano and upper montane forests towards north, the limits with the Toisán and Intag region. Following the western limits to meet Los Cedros and Manduriacu region.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	20	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland
Wetlands(Inland)	1	Wetlands (inland) – Permanent rivers/streams/creeks (includes waterfalls)
Forest	65	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Wood & pulp plantations	Scale Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Intentional use: large scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing
Pollution	Domestic & urban waste water	Sewage	Ongoing
Pollution	Garbage & solid waste		Ongoing

Additional information