National Natural Park Gorgona (19085)
Colombia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: D1a

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Parque Nacional Natural Gorgona

Central coordinates: Latitude: 2.9720, Longitude: -78.2057

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 338

Area of KBA (km²): 601.02124

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Gorgona National Natural Park is located off the coast of the municipality of Guapi, department of Cauca. The shortest distance to the mainland is 30 km to the town of Bazán, in the Sanquianga National Natural Park. The Park is made up of two main islands, Gorgona and Gorgonilla, separated 700 m from each other by the Tasca pass. Additionally, there are rocky promontories to the north of Gorgona and to the west and south of Gorgonilla. This park constitutes the most extensive insular emerged portion of the Colombian Pacific (Díaz et al. 2001). The coastal margin is made up of cliffs and rocky and sandy beaches and coral skeletons. Gorgona Island is covered in tropical humid forest, but the vast majority of the forest is of secondary regeneration, due to the deforestation it suffered during the time it was used as a prison. In the Park there is a village and a visitor center. The population of Gorgona fluctuates between 30 and 50 people, made up of Park officials, researchers, tourists, volunteer park rangers, police and coast guards. More than 70 species of birds have been recorded in the Park and its surrounding waters. Here are the most important breeding colonies on the Colombian Pacific coast of pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis murphyi) and Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster etesiaca), an endemic subspecies of the tropical eastern Pacific. It is also an important resting place for frigate birds (Fregata magnificens) and the Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii). Several migratory species of seagulls and shorebirds arrive on the island's beaches.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This KBA features key congregations for three species: Pelecanus occidentalis (brown pelican), Fregata magnificens (magnificent frigatebird) and Sula nebouxii (blue-footed booby) in the Pacific Ocean, these meet criterion D1a.

Additional biodiversity: According to Prahl and Alberico (1986), in Gorgona there are two endemic subspecies of mammals; the sloth (Bradypus variagatus infuscatus) and Spiny Rat (Proechimys (semispinosus) gorgonae, LR/nt), an endemic species of lizard (Anolis gorgonae), a land snail (Drymaeus gorgonensis) and a freshwater crab (Hypolobocera gorgonensis )

Manageability of the site: The management of this KBA is in charge of National Natural Parks of Colombia.

Delineation rationale: The limits of this KBA are given by the area and limits of the Gorgona National Natural Park.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Marine Deep Ocean Floor (Benthic and Demersal)	9	Bathypelagic (1,000–4,000 m)
Forest	10	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The Park has problems with illegal fishing, since the coastal communities of Nariño and Cauca are very close. Tourism is controlled and generally always guided and accompanied by Park staff, so it does not represent a threat. Additionally, the breeding colonies are located in inaccessible sites, such as Gorgonilla and the rocky islets. Natural factors such as cliff erosion can alter the Gorgonilla colonies, and oceanographic factors like El Niño negatively affect fish populations and the health of coral reefs, leading to a consequent decrease in bird populations due to a reduction in food supply.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]
Climate change & severe weather	Storms & flooding		Unknown
Geological events	Earthquakes/tsunamis		Unknown
Geological events	Avalanches/landslides		Unknown

Additional information