Sumapaz Natural National Park (19089)
Colombia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, B1, B2

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Parque Nacional Natural Sumapaz

Central coordinates: Latitude: 3.9442, Longitude: -74.1918

System: terrestrial, freshwater

Elevation (m): 1500 to 4360

Area of KBA (km²): 2217.47881

Protected area coverage (%): 97.06

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Sumapaz National Park is located on the axis of the Eastern Cordillera, in the departments of Cundinamarca, Huila and Meta, and includes eleven municipalities. The Sumapaz Park includes biomes of high Andean forest, páramo and a small enclave of super páramo. Sumapaz is part of the Norandina biogeographic province (Hernández-Camacho et al. 1992a, b).

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This KBA is key to the conservation of the Apolinar's Wren (Cistothorus apolinari), a species considered Endangered, meeting A1a criterion. Also, many other species triggered some KBA criteria. Three amphibian species triggered B2 criteria: Allobates juanii, Pristimantis nervicus and Pristimantis medemi. Eight plants species triggered another KBA criteria: Espeletia summapacis triggered A1a, B1 and B2; Puya loca and Tillandsia breviturneri triggered only A1a criteria; Espeletia argentea Espeletia grandiflora and Espeletia killipii triggered both B1 and B2 criteria; and finally, Linochilus phylicoides and Espeletia cabrerensis triggered only B2 criteria.

Additional biodiversity: More than 300 species of birds have been recorded in this KBA, among which the most representative are the Black-chested Buzzard-eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus), the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus-VU) and the Apolinar's Wren (Cistothorus apolinari) (Renjifo et al. 2002) . Another threatened bird species recorded in this KBA is the Bogota Rail (Rallus semiplumbeus-VU).

Manageability of the site: This KBA is a Protected Area managed by the National Natural Parks of Colombia. The management and conservation actions in this KBA falls on the National Natural Parks of Colombia.

Delineation rationale: The limits of this KBA follow the limits of the AP

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: The paramo ecosystem is considered a biogeographic island, surrounded by tropical vegetation with marked endemism in fauna and flora. In addition, it has a high capacity to condense water vapor, cause rain and store large amounts of water within its organic soil, and then distribute it throughout ecosystems. Regarding the Andean forest ecosystem, it is identified by its large quantity and variety of trees and shrubs, in addition to its high diversity and endemism. Likewise, the ecosystem services it provides include water supply, soil fertility and carbon storage.

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Shrubland	50	Shrubland – Subtropical/tropical high altitude
Forest	50	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane
Artificial - Terrestrial	4.8

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main problem facing the Park is the expansion of livestock and agricultural activities in its buffer zone.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Scale Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Scale Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing

Additional information