Lomas de Lachay (14820)
Peru, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Lomas de Lachay

Central coordinates: Latitude: -11.3687, Longitude: -77.3652

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 40 to 960

Area of KBA (km²): 70.10838

Protected area coverage (%): 72.26

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The KBA Lomas de Lachay covers an area of 70.11 sq km and it's located in the department of Lima, province of Huaura (Huacho district) and Huaral (Chancay and Huaral districts), Perú. The altitude range of the KBA Reserva Nacional Lomas de Lachay is 40 - 960 masl. This KBA was delimited based on the limits of the Lachay Natural Reserve. The entire KBA Lomas de Lachay includes the Desierto Costanero del Pacifico Peruano ecoregion. There are two clearly distinct seasons. The dry season, which begins in January and lasts until May (average temperatures above 25°C), and the wet season, which runs from June to October (average temperatures 10°C). The flora and fauna in Lachay depend on the humidity of the mists, which has led to the evolution of unique interactions and dependencies between species, as well as a high degree of endemism and distinct morphological and physiological adaptations between species.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Lomas de Lachay qualifies as a Key BIodiversity Area of international significance because it meets the A1 criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs for the species Haageocereus tenuis.

Additional biodiversity: Laterallus jamaicensis, Pseudasthes cactorum, Geositta peruviana, Burhinus superciliaris, Sicalis raimondi, Geositta crassirostris, Thinocorus rumicivorus, Pluvialis squatarola, Charadrius semipalmatus, Leucophaeus pipixcan, Thalasseus sandvicensis, Riparia riparia, Hirundo rustica, Dipsas williamsi, Phyllodactylus lepidopygus

Manageability of the site: Since this KBA enclosures a Natural Protected Area, it can be potentially manageable by the National Service of Protected Natural Areas - SERNANP.

Other site values: No indigenous communities were identified.

Delineation rationale: The KBA Lomas de Lachay follows the boundaries of the Buffer Zone of the Lachay National Reserve, excluding agricultural areas. This KBA also includes the Lachay National Reserve, and its boundaries have been extended to encompass more suitable habitat for the cactus Haageocereus tenuis.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Desert 1-10% Loma 80-90%

Land use: Natural Area Protected by the State.

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	85
Desert	5

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Human intrusions & disturbance			Unknown
Residential & commercial development	Tourism & recreation areas		Ongoing

Additional information

References: Claros D. (2010). Gestión del Agua y Biodiversidad en la Reserva Nacional de Lachay. Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado. https://www.gob.pe/institucion/sernanp/informes-publicaciones/1718927-reserva-nacional-de-lachay MINAM. (2018). Mapa Nacional de Ecosistemas del Perú. SINIA (Sistema Nacional de Información Ambiental) https://sinia.minam.gob.pe/mapas/mapa-nacional-ecosistemas-peru.