Chancay - Zaña (14905)
Peru, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1e, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Chancay - Zaña
Central coordinates: Latitude: -6.9428, Longitude: -79.0547
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 400 to 3950
Area of KBA (km2): 467.34891
Protected area coverage (%): 21.23
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The KBA Chancay - Zaña covers an area of 467.348 sq km and it's located in the department of Cajamarca, in northwestern Peru, in the Provinces of San Miguel and Santa Cruz, and in the department of Lambayeque, in the Province of Chiclayo (Oyotun district). It is a humid and productive valley with several towns such as Monteseco and La Florida, in the middle part of the valley, and old haciendas, including Taulís and Udima, located in the upper area. The slopes of the Saña River valley are covered by humid forests sustained in large part by seasonal summer rainfall and a continuous and almost constant cloud cover. These forests, currently fragmented, develop on moderate to steep slopes. It is a densely populated valley where coffee is grown and there are extensive rice fields, among other crops. The forests are used for grazing, firewood and hunting. The upper zone includes a wildlife reserve called "Bosques de Udima", which occupies approximately 20% of the KBA and protects mainly montane relict forest. It includes the following ecosystems: "Bosque estacionalmente seco de colina y montaña (Seasonally dry hill and montane forest)", "Jalca (Jalca)", "Bosque relicto montano de vertiente occidental (Western slope montane relict forest)" and agricultural zones.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Chancay- Zaña qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for A1a, A1b, A1e, B1 and B2 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. This KBA harbors three Endangered and restricted amphibian (Cochranella euhystrix, Centrolene hesperia and Pristimantis petrobardus), the geographically restricted Noctuid Halysidota conflua, the Vulnerable tree Polylepis multijuga, and the range restricted bird species Penelope barbata, Scytalopus unicolor and Saltator nigriceps.
Additional biodiversity: Syndactyla ruficollis, Lathrotriccus griseipectus, Ampelornis griseiceps, Penelope barbata, Heliangelus viola, Pipreola lubomirskii, Pristimantis ceuthospilus
Manageability of the site: This KBA can be managed jointly by the managers of the protected natural area "Refugio de Vida Silvestre Bosques Nublados de Udima" (Udima Cloud Forest Wildlife Refuge), and the Regional Government of Cajamarca.
Supersedes another site: 14905 - Alto Valle del Saña
The modification of the shape of this KBA is because the participants of the North Group Workshop warned us that the south is intervened and that in order to include the species Polylepis multijuga, an area should be added to the north. In addition, the entire extension of the National Protected Area "Bosques Nublados de Udima" Wildlife Refuge is being included.
The change of the name was also proposed by the participants of the Northern Group Workshop because it is more appropriate for the geographic area.
Other site values: No indigenous communities were identified
Delineation rationale: The delimitation of the KBA Chancay- Zaña has been modified at the northern boundary following the border of the natural protected area "Refugio de Vida Silvestre Bosques Nublados de Udima" (Udima Cloud Forest Wildlife Refuge) its buffer zone and Polylepis forests. The new delimitation left out very degraded areas in the Palmito settlements.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Cloud montane forest.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 5 | |
| Grassland | 45 | |
| Forest | 45 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats in the KBA "Chancay - Zaña" are related to climate change and severe weather conditions, which affect species like Halysidota conflua. These threats are ongoing and require conservation measures.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate change & severe weather | 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.
Dillon et al. 1995
Salinas et al. 2003
Contributors: Juan Grados, Arli Ayala, Emmy Medina, Letty Salinas, Alejandra Arana, Roger Barboza, Tatiana Boza, Victor Sánchez, Laura Graham-Angeles and Camila Dávila