Chiguata (14883)
Peru, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: B2

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Chiguata

Central coordinates: Latitude: -16.3839, Longitude: -71.3708

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 2600 to 5300

Area of KBA (km²): 333.366619

Protected area coverage (%): 0.00

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The KBA Chiguata covers 1080 sq km and is located 20 km from the city of Arequipa, with the town of Chiguata to the southeast, which is the closest town. The altitudinal range of this site goes from 2600 to 5300 masl. In this area with an extremely dry climate, the vegetation is composed mainly by andean scrub, puna grassland and various species of cacti. However, above this montane scrub grows an interesting patch of Polylepis forest. Grazing is practiced in the area and there are areas dedicated to agriculture. This KBA presents four types of climates within its territory: 1) Semi-dry and cold with dry spring and winter, 2) dry during all year and temperate, 3) Semi-dry and cold with dry winter, and 4) Semi-dry and semi-cold with dry winter.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Chiguata qualifies as a Key BIodiversity Area of international significance because it meets the B2 criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs for the species Upucerthia albigula and Conirostrum tamarugense.

Additional biodiversity: Liolaemus tacnae, Austrocylindropuntia subulata, Cumulopuntia boliviana, Conirostrum tamarugense, Upucerthia albigula, Asthenes pudibunda, Geositta crassirostris, Recurvirostra andina, Leptasthenura striata, Metriopelia ceciliae, Ochthoeca oenanthoides and Upucerthia validirostris, Agriornis albicauda

Manageability of the site: This site could be managed by the National Forest and Wildlife Service - SERFOR, through the Arequipa Forestry and Wildlife Technical Management (ATFFS - Administración Técnica Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre) because it covers part of the buffer zone of the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, therefore it falls under its jurisdiction.

Supersedes another site: -

Other site values: No indigenous communities were identified

Delineation rationale: This KBA is bordered on the northeast with Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve and crosses the districts of Chiguata, Pocsi, San Juan de Tarucani and Characato; on the southeast this site border corresponds with General Sanchez Cerro province of Moquegua.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Shrubland 50-60%, Grassland 40-50%, Savanna 1-10%

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

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No threats have been recorded at this location at this time.

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 (2015) Map of vegetation coverage types in Perú. in https://geoservidor.minam.gob.pe/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/MAPA_COBERTURA_VEGETAL.pdf.