Galeras Flora and Fauna Sanctuary (19102)
Colombia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1e

Year of last assessment: 2023

National site name: Santuario de Fauna y Flora Galeras

Central coordinates: Latitude: 1.2037, Longitude: -77.3831

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1750 to 4726

Area of KBA (km²): 83.24139

Protected area coverage (%): 98.38

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Sanctuary of Flora and Fauna Galeras is part of the eastern central branch of the Andes mountain range, in the Pastos knot, in the extreme southwest of Colombia. It is made up of the upper parts of the municipalities of Pasto, Tangua, Yacuanquer, Consacá, Sandoná, La Florida and Nariño (Castaño-Uribe and Cano 1998). Average annual temperatures in the area range between 3 and 13º C, with the lowest corresponding to the months of July and August. The daily fluctuations in temperature are quite notorious, reaching up to -8ºC in the early morning and 17ºC at noon on sunny days (UAESPNN 1998b). These sudden changes in temperature determine strong changes in relative humidity, which can range from less than 50 to more than 90%. The average annual precipitation in the area is between 790 and 2,000 mm, divided into two more or less marked seasons (bimodal), March-May and October-November. The annual precipitation in the northern sector is 853 mm, while in the southern side it reaches 1,000 to 2,000 mm per year (UAESPNN 1998b).

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This area is important for the conservation of the endangered and range restricted species Atelopus ardila, that triggered the A1e criteria.

Additional biodiversity: More than 100 species of birds have been observed at the KBA, including the Crescent-faced Antpitta (Grallaricula lineifrons) and the near-threatened Black-thighed Puffleg (Eriocnemis derbyi). This KBA is key to the Scarlet-fronted Parakeet (Psittacara wagleri), a Near Threatened species with records of up to 300 individuals in flight. For these last years there are not such high abundances. The plant richness is given by species of the following genera: Calamagrostis, Espeletia, Hipochoeris and Lachemilla. Salazar (1984) found and described 55 families of angiosperms for the area close to the Galeras volcano, 46 of the Dicotyledoneae class and nine of the Monocotyledoneae class.

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. Environmental guidance services and the ECOANDINO project stand out, in which 800 families from the surrounding villages participate.

Delineation rationale: The limits are given by the area of the protected area SFF Galeras

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: The vegetation corresponds to the cloudy Andean forest, paramo and subparamo communities, ranunculaceae, bromeliads, orchids, lichens, and epiphytic mosses (INDERENA 1989). The highest elevation is given by the summit of the Galeras volcano (4,276 m). On the upper part of the western slope, there is the presence of numerous broken terrains with steep slopes, while on the eastern slope, there are undulating terrains with some plains at its southern end. The land use-vegetation types and their corresponding surface extension are as follows: barren land-rocky material (175 ha), paramo-sparse vegetation (1,866 ha), primary forest (2,309 ha), intervened primary forest (1,502 ha), subparamo (1,053 ha), grasslands (123 ha), highly intervened primary forest (439 ha), secondary forest (330 ha), intervened paramo (38 ha), and managed pasture (1,051 ha) (UAESPNN 1998b). The hydrographic network is extremely extensive and rich, with strategic reservoirs such as Laguna Negra, Telpis Lagoon, and Laguna Verde. There are more than 125 identified streams, which contribute approximately 2,700 liters of water per second and benefit around 500,000 people from human communities settled on the slopes of the Galeras volcano.

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	0.29	Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes (over 8 ha)
Shrubland	5
Grassland	0.08	Grassland – Subtropical/tropical high altitude
Artificial - Terrestrial	15
Forest	72.98	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane
Artificial - Aquatic	24.36	Plantations

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The presence of intentionally caused burns on the páramo, the presence of livestock (cows and horses) using it as pasture, and the extraction of wood for firewood and posts were observed. The Sanctuary faces issues regarding land tenure, as there are properties with deeds dating back long before it was declared a protected area, such as the case of Laguna Negra, properties adjacent to the park cabin located on the eastern flank, among others, leading to conflicts with the owners.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads	Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities	Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Oil & gas drilling	Ongoing
Geological events	Earthquakes/tsunamis	Unknown

Additional information