Bosque de Zárate (14786)
Peru, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Bosque de Zárate

Central coordinates: Latitude: -11.9300, Longitude: -74.4600

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 2700 to 3300

Area of KBA (km²): 17.10764

Protected area coverage (%): 31.73

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The KBA Bosque de Zárate is located in the central-western part of Perú, in the district of Huarochirí, department of Lima. It occupies the upper part of the San Bartolomé river ravine, a tributary of the Rímac river. There are small hamlets at higher altitudes in the valley and in the lower part is San Bartolomé, the largest town in the area. The KBA encompasses a forest patch that comprises 120 ha of dry cloud forest growing on steep slopes. It consists of mixed groups dominated by Oreopanax, Myrcianthes and Escallonia and is surrounded by shrubby vegetation. The vegetation is an important controller of the strong landslides or huaycos that occur during the summer rains in the region. This KBA presents four climate types, being mainly temperate to cold, and dry. In general, the temperature variation goes from 23°C to -7°C, and the annual precipitation ranges from 200 to 700 mm, depending on the region within the KBA.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Bosque de Zárate qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the A1a criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBA. The KBA harbors the threatened plant Solanum wittmackii and the endangered bird Poospiza rubecula.

Additional biodiversity: Plants: Echinopsis peruviana. Birds: Vultur Gryphus, Zaratornis stresemanni, Poospiza rubecula, Atlapetes nationi, Asthenes pudibunda, Bolborhynchus orbygnesius, Cranioleuca baroni, Leptasthenura pileata, Megascops koepckeae, Mettalura phoebe, Metriopelia ceciliae, Polyonymus caroli.

Manageability of the site: This KBA is an Area of Importance for Bird Conservation - IBA and also a protected area in Peru (Restricted Zone Bosque de Zárate) See: https://legislacionanp.org.pe/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Resolucion_Ministerial_N__195-2010-MINAM20191021-22801-9siqw4.pdf

Supersedes another site: -

Other site values: San Bartolomé and San Andrés de Tupicocha are campesino communities present in the KBA.

Delineation rationale: The KBA Bosques de Zárate occupies the upper part of the San Bartolomé river ravine, a tributary of the Rímac river.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Mainly composed by dry cloud forest that grows on steep slopes. It consists of mixed groups dominated by Oreopanax, Myrcianthes and Escallonia and is surrounded by shrubby vegetation.

Land use: Within the KBA, the Restricted Zone Bosque de Zárate is managed by the Peruvian Government.

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Both the forest and the surrounding vegetation present in the site are used mainly as a grazing area for cattle and goats. The site is under heavy grazing pressure, especially at the end of the rainy season. The collection of firewood by residents of the nearby hamlets is also high, and uncontrolled ecotourism could become a threat.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing

Additional information

References: MINAM (2018) National Ecosystems Map of Peru. In SINIA (National Environmental Information System). 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). Climate of Perú: National climate classification map. https://www.senamhi.gob.pe/?p=mapa-climatico-del-peru