Marcapomacocha (14789)
Peru, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, B1

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Marcapomacocha

Central coordinates: Latitude: -11.4000, Longitude: -76.3470

System: terrestrial, freshwater

Elevation (m): 4182 to 5081

Area of KBA (km²): 218.93185

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The KBA Marcapomacocha covers an area of 218.93 sq km, and it's located in Perú, within the district of Marcapomacocha, both from the province of Yauli in the department of Junín. The altitude range of the KBA Marcapomacocha is 4182-4451 masl. The maximum temperature ranges from 12 °C to 14 °C, while the minimum temperature from 8 °C to 10 °C. The annual precipitation varies between 13 mm and 190 mm. The KBA Marcapomacocha presents humid puna grasslands, wetlands, lakes and lagoons, and periglaciar ecosystems.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Marcapomacocha 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. The Marcapomacocha qualifies by the A1 criterion for the critically endangered White-bellied Cinclodes, and qualifies by the A1 and B1 criteria for the endangered plant Solanum catilliflorum.

Additional biodiversity: Vultur gryphus, Phegornis mitchellii, Asthenes virgata, Atlapetes nationi, Geositta saxicolina, Asthenes pudibunda, Chalcostigma olivaceum, Fulica gigantea, Geocerthia serrana, Leptasthenura pileata, Metallura phoebe, Oreotrochilus melanogaster, Plegadis ridgwayi, Attatis gayi, Thinocorus orbignyianus, Spatula discors.

Manageability of the site: The KBA Marcapomacocha can potentially be administered by the regional government of Junin (http://www.regionjunin.gob.pe/pagina/id/oficina_regional_de_recursos_naturales_y_gestion_del_medio_ambiente/) because it has the capacity to establish Regional Conservation Areas. Also the Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos works in this KBA implementing restauration programms. 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 KBAs.

Supersedes another site: -

Other site values: No indigenous communities were identified.

Delineation rationale: The KBA Marcapomacocha to the west follows the limits of the province of Yauli on the right bank of the Chillon River to the town of Yantac. To the north, it borders the Santa Barbara de Carhuacayan district. To the east it includes Laguna Parpacanchan and Laguna Mishipanahuin in the Yauli Province, crossing the tributary of the Alcacocha River up to the Tucto Dam. To the south it is delineated to include the detonating species adjusting to the mountainous relief above 4800 meters above sea level up to the provincial limit of Huarochiri.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Wetland (inland) 10-20%, Grassland 60-70% Rocky areas 10-20%

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

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Grassland	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: This site does not present major threats.

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