Tota Lake (19137)
Colombia, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a

Year of last assessment: 2024

National site name: Laguna de Tota

Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.5391, Longitude: -72.9234

System: freshwater

Elevation (m): 3000 to 3000

Area of KBA (km²): 62.82424

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Laguna de Tota is the largest freshwater lake in Colombia formed in a high mountain depression located at 3000 m a.s.l. in the east of the Boyaca Department, in the Sugamuxi Province. The lake is the source of the Upia River which flows into the Orinoco River basin. Water pollution by agrochemicals from nearby agricultural activities and the introduction of exotic species is causing a decline in the habitat quality. Integrated catchment management and invasive alien species control are recommended. Indigenous and local communities should be involved in any steps to advance the sustainable management of this site.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This area it's important for the conservation of Cistothorus apolinari, a bird species that triggered the A1a criteria.

Additional biodiversity: Between the years 2003 and 2006, a total of 66 resident species and 28 migratory species were reported. Among the resident species, the presence of three endemic species, eight endemic subspecies, 15 range extensions or new records, 14 species recorded for the second time in the area, and seven species reported under some global and national threat category stand out (Zuluaga-Bonilla & Macana in valuation). Non-bird biodiversity: The Tota greasy fish (Rhozozomichthys totae), currently considered extinct (Red Book of Freshwater Fish 2000).

Manageability of the site: This area is managed by many entities that are present in this zone. One of them is CORPOBOYACÁ (Corporación Autónoma Regional de Boyacá), the Autonomous Regional Corporation in charge of areas outside Natural National Parks in Boyacá department. By the research branches of UPTC )Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia) and also by some indigenous communities that live near this lake

Delineation rationale: This area was delineated following the boundaries of the Water Round (Ronda Hídrica in Colombia) of Laguna de la Tota. Water Round is established in the Decreto 2245 de 2017: It comprises the strip parallel to the line of maximum tides or to the permanent channel of rivers and lakes, up to thirty meters wide.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	100	Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes (over 8 ha)

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Around Lake Tota, the territory is occupied by onion crops, with an approximate area of 3800 hectares at an altitude of 3,050 meters. Nearly 90% of the flat land on the lake's side is being used for this purpose (Collar et al 1992). In addition to onion monoculture, the land is used for grazing up to 3,600 meters (EOT Aquitania 2001). These anthropogenic activities have led to the decrease in the total area of the lake and habitat for associated species, as well as the pollution of water sources due to the use of agricultural inputs.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Pollution	Agricultural & forestry effluents	Herbicides and pesticides	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Unspecified species	Ongoing

Additional information

References: BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Laguna de Tota. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/laguna-de-tota-iba-colombia on 17/04/2024.