Ramis y Arapa (Lago Titicaca, sector Peruano) (14717)
Peru, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, B1

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Ramis y Arapa (Lago Titicaca, sector Peruano)

Central coordinates: Latitude: -15.6970, Longitude: -69.6240

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 3825 to 4350

Area of KBA (km²): 4943.32496

Protected area coverage (%): 93.89

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The KBA Ramis y Arapa (Lago Titicaca, sector Peruano) covers and area of 4943.325 sq km and it's located in Perú, department of Puno, provinces of Huancané and Taraco. The altitudinal range of this KBA is 3825 - 4350 masl. There are two main climate types: 1) Semi-dry with dry autumn and winter, cold and 2) Rainy with dry autumn and winter, cold. The temperature varies between -3°C and 19°. The annual precipitation ranges from 500 mm to 1200 mm, approximately. The KBA includes the Ramis Sector of Lake Titicaca and the Arapa lagoon. The Ramis Sector, part of the Titicaca National Reserve, includes the reeds on the left bank of the mouth of the Ramis River and the Sunuco and Yaricoa lagoons. The Arapa lagoon is located to the north of Lake Titicaca, near the mouth of the Ramis River, in such a way that when the water level rises during the rainy season it becomes an extension of Lake Titicaca. The Ramis and Arapa wetlands consist of reeds and water bodies surrounded by areas dedicated to agriculture. The fluctuations of the water level are one meter, and they reach the maximum level between November and March. Fishing is practiced in these wetlands, and there is also an important tourist activity.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Ramis y Arapa (Lago Titicaca, sector Peruano) qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for A1 and B1 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. This KBA harbors the Endangered plant Valeriana johannae, the Endangered and range restricted Lake Tititica aquatic frog Telmatobius culeus, the Endangered bird Rollandia microptera and the Vulnerable and range restricted fish Orestias ctenolepis.

Additional biodiversity: Phoenicopterus chilensis, Theristicus branickii, Rollandia rolland, Larus serranus, Lophonetta specularioides, Anas georgica, Fulica gigantea, Vanellus resplendes, Anas bahamensis, Merganetta armata, Mesembrinibis cayennensis, Gallinago andina, Tigrisoma fasciatum, Chloephaga melanoptera, Spatula puna, Fulica ardesiaca, Recurvirostra andina, Charadrius alticola, Plegadis ridgwayi, Attatis gayi, Thinocorus orbignianus, Pluvialis squatarola, Actitis macularius, Calidris bairdii, Hirundo rustica, Orestias olivaceus, Lessonia oreas, Orochelidon andecola

Manageability of the site: This KBA is an area that includes a National Protected Areas such as Reserva Nacional del Titicaca, so this KBA can be managed by the National Service for Natural Areas Protected by the State - SERNANP jointly with the Regional Government of Puno. 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.

Delineation rationale: The Ramis and Arapa KBA (Lake Titicaca, Peruvian sector) was delineated to encompass the ecological characteristics of Valeriana johannae and other trigger species, which include small patches of forest within agricultural zones where the species is distributed. The boundaries of the KBA also include the 100% Protected Natural Area Titicaca National Reserve. This delineation was proposed in a consultation workshop with local experts. To the northeast it extends to the district of Arapa and Chupa excluding Arapa hill because of its agricultural land use, descends following the limits of Lake Titicaca National Reserve and to the south it is delimited by the national boundary between Peru and Bolivia.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Wetland (inland) 90-100% Grassland 1-10%

Land use: National Reserve Protected by the State, in part

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Grassland	5
Wetlands(Inland)	95

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The greatest threats to the area are the extraction of reeds for the construction of islands, rafts, and handicrafts. In addition to hunting, the collection of eggs and the sale of stuffed animals.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources		Ongoing

Additional information

References: MINAM. (2018). Mapa Nacional de Ecosistemas del Perú. SINIA (Sistema Nacional de Información Ambiental) https://sinia.minam.gob.pe/mapas/mapa-nacional-ecosistemas-peru Castro, A., Dávila, C., Laura, W., Cubas Saucedo, F., Ávalos, G., López, C., ... & Marín, D. (2021). Climas del Perú: mapa de clasificación climática nacional. In Climas del Perú: mapa de clasificación climática nacional (pp. 70-70). https://www.senamhi.gob.pe/?p=mapa-climatico-del-peru