La Aurora (19057)
Colombia, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: La Aurora
Central coordinates: Latitude: 6.0228, Longitude: -71.3803
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 140 to 165
Area of KBA (km2): 163.62429
Protected area coverage (%): 59.52
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This KBA is made up of two areas: 1) The Natural Reserve of the Hato La Aurora Civil Society, which is located in the Matapalito village in the municipality of Hato Corozal, is a plain subject to seasonal flooding. It belongs to the Ariporo river basin, sub-basin of the Meta river. The RNSC has an area of 9709.10 hectares, and is limited to the north by the Chire River and to the south by the Chire Viejo River and the Caño el Toro; to the east by the El Indio channel and the Ariporo River, and which also serves as the municipal boundary between Hato Corozal and Paz de Ariporo in the department of Casanare. 2) the Juan Solito Ecolodge located in the Las Vegas village, in the Paz de Ariporo municipality, passing the Chire river.
In this KBA the main habitats are aeolian and wooded savannahs, wetlands, secondary forests known locally as forest tussocks, and pasture areas. This KBA constitutes a plain with heights between 140 and 165 meters above sea level.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international importance meeting the KBA thresholds for Neochen jubata, meeting criteria D1. This KBA is important for the Orinoco Goose (Neochen jubata), it is estimated that this KBA hosts 3% of the hemispheric population of this species.
Additional biodiversity: In the savannahs, paja peluda(Trachipogon vestitus), savannah straw (Scleria histella), and guaratara (Axonopus purpusii), foxtail (Andropogon bicornis) are found mainly in poorly drained areas. In well-drained areas, black grass (Paspalum plicatum), hairy straw (Trachipogon vestitus), and Saeta (Trachypogon ligularis) are found. The gallery forest has species such as Tuno (Miconia minor), Guaimaro (Brosimum sp.), Nacedero (Trichantera gigantea), Dormilón (Calliandra surinensis), Olla de Mono (Lecythis minor), Anime (Protium sp.), Araca palm ( Socratia durisima), Cumare Palm (Astrocarium chambira), Thousand Pesos Palm (Tessenia polycarpa). Morichales (Mauritia minor) are also found, generally between savannah formations and gallery forests.
Manageability of the site: The management of this KBA is exercised by the owners of the RNSC Hato La Aurora and the Ecolodge Juan Solito, it is private property.
Delineation rationale: The limits of this KBA are given by the area covered by the RNSC Hato La Aurora and the Ecolodge Juan Solito.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The RNSC Hato La Aurora has been dedicated to extensive livestock farming for many years, involving breeding and raising on natural pastures and some paddocks with artificial grass. These activities are complemented by the cultivation of plantains, cassava, and various fruit trees in small plots near the farmhouses, as well as subsistence fishing and hunting practices. Ecotourism has been carried out in the Juan Solito Ecolodge for more than 10 years, as an economic alternative within the area.
Land use: In La Aurora, gallery forests, plains forests, savannas, floodplain forests, and wetlands or estuaries are preserved. The ecosystems in La Aurora include Gallery Forests, Plain Forests, Savannas, and floodable forests with the presence of aquatic vegetation. The importance of the remnants of plain forests and gallery forests lies in their conservation and/or establishment contributing to water regulation and erosion control. Additionally, they serve as practically the only biological corridors or wooded areas in the region that help preserve both native fauna and flora by serving as habitats for threatened or endangered species.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Savanna | 41 | Savanna - Dry |
| Forest | 58 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical dry |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 1 | Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes (over 8 ha) |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy production & mining | Oil & gas drilling | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Geological events | Earthquakes/tsunamis | Unknown |
Additional information
Contributors: Nelson Barragan Plata y Jorge Arturo Barragan Plata (Owners and managers of Ecolodge Juan Solito and Hato La Aurora, respectively)
Carlos Ruiz-Guerra y Yanira Cifuentes-Sarmiento. Asociación Calidris.