Maruncunca (14693)
Peru, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1b, B2

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Maruncunca

Central coordinates: Latitude: -14.1880, Longitude: -69.1888

System: terrestrial, freshwater

Elevation (m): 1300 to 2600

Area of KBA (km²): 568.47453

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The KBA Maruncunca covers 568.48 sq km and it is located in Perú, in the provinces of Sandia and San Antonio de Putina, department of Puno. The altitude range of this KBA goes from 1300 to 2600 masl. The main climate types present in the area are: (1) temperate and semi-dry with abundant moisture all stations of the year, (2) temperate and rainy with abundant moisture all the stations of the year. In the former, the maximum temperature ranges between 21°C and 25°C; the minimum temperature ranges between 7°C and 11°C; and the annual precipitation ranges between 700 mm and 2000 mm. In the second, the maximum temperature ranges between 25°C and 29°C; the minimum temperatureramges between 11°C and 17°C; and the annual precipitation ranges between 1200 mm and 3000 mm. This KBA includes the following ecosystems: "Bosque montano de Yunga (Yunga montane forest)", "Bosque altimontano (Pluvial) de Yunga (Yunga montane forest (Pluvial))" and "Bosque basimontano de Yunga (Basimontane forest of Yunga)" and secondary vegetation.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Maruncunca qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for A1b and B2 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBA. This KBA harbors the Vulnerable amphibian Boana gladiator and two range-restricted birds (Tangara meyerdeschauenseei and Lipaugus uropygialis).

Additional biodiversity: Erythrolamprus problematicus, Spizaetus isidori, Cranioleuca albiceps, Coeligena osculans, Scytalopus simonsi, Anisognathus flavinucha, Grallaria albigula, Aulacorhynchus coeruleicinctis, Cinnycerthia peruana, Conopophaga ardesiaca, Creurgops dentatus, Entomodestes leucotis, Eubucco versicolor, Grallaria albigula, Myiophobus inornatus, Nothocercus nigrocapillus, Phyllomyias sclateri, Pseudotriccus simplex, Thlypopsis ruficeps, Zimmerius bolivianus, Pipreola intermedia

Manageability of the site: This KBA can be managed by the Regional Government of Puno (https://www.gob.pe/regionpuno). The National Coordination Group of KBAs has a conservation promotion and monitoring committee, which is composed of various governmental and civil society institutions that will work to promote conservation actions in the KBA.

Supersedes another site: -

Other site values: The closest rural community is Queneque

Delineation rationale: The Maruncunca KBA is delineated to include the trigger species. To the northwest, it follows the Huari Huari River margin to the border with the Buffer Zone of Bahuaja Sonene National Park, to the east with the crossing of the Pablobamba River, and continues along Highway 34H of the Peruvian National Highway, including the town of Yanahuaya, to the southern border with the Sina River, where it continues its delimitation to the west.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Yunga montane forest 65-70% Yunga montane forest (Pluvial) 5-10% Basimontane forest of Yunga 10-15% Secondary vegetation 10-15%

Land use: The area of this KBA does not have any type of management.

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

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: This site is threatened by the effects of urban and agriculture development.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Shifting agriculture	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Ongoing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Pollution	Agricultural & forestry effluents	Herbicides and pesticides	Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Oil & gas drilling		Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Other ecosystem modifications		Ongoing
Pollution	Domestic & urban waste water	Sewage	Ongoing
Pollution	Garbage & solid waste		Ongoing
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants	Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	Ongoing

Additional information

References: Castro, A., Dávila, C., Laura, W., Cubas Saucedo, F., Ávalos, G., López, C., ... & Marín, D.(2021). Climate of Perú: National climate classification map. https://www.senamhi.gob.pe/?p=mapa-climatico-del-peru MINAM (2018) National Ecosystems Map of Peru. In SINIA (National Environmental Information System). https://sinia.minam.gob.pe/mapas/mapa-nacional-ecosistemas-peru.