Golfo de Montijo Wetlands (19280)
Panama, Central America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Humedales del Golfo de Montijo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 7.6833, Longitude: -81.1333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 194
Area of KBA (km2): 899.47687
Protected area coverage (%): 94.81
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Gulf of Montijo Wetlands includes mangroves (21,000 ha) and adjacent areas along the San Pablo, San Pedro, Punuga, Suay, Tebario, and Angulo Rivers, and the Caté, San Andrés, Cañazas, and Boca de Trinidad Estuaries. Leones, Papagaro, and Verde Islands in the bay are also included, with the high point (194 m) on Leones. Much of the area is accessible by road or small boat.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: There has been a recent record of Yellow-billed Cotinga from the area, and a population probably occurs. The Gulf of Montijo is an important wintering area for some species of migratory shorebirds. Although total numbers are not large, it contained 21.7% of national totals of Whimbrel, 10.4% of Short-billed Dowitcher, and 9.9% of Willet on counts in January 1993 (Morrison et al. 1998). Several nationally threatened species are also found, including Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, and Muscovy Duck (Delgado 1985a, Rodríguez 1996). Non-bird biodiversity: Panamanian Spiny Pocket Mouse, Neotropical River Otter, and American Crocodile occur (Delgado 1985a).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The bay contains extensive areas of mangroves, as well as approximately 3,200 ha of tidal mudflats. Most of the area surrounding the mangroves has been cleared for cattle, rice, and subsistence agriculture, but there is also some secondary forest and scrub.
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 73 | |
| Forest | 23 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 4 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is threatened by cutting of mangroves for wood and fuel and uncontrolled hunting, especially of ducks. Contamination by pesticides and other agricultural chemicals from nearby rice fields is also likely to be a problem. There are no facilities for tourism.
Additional information
References: Aldrich, John W., and Benjamin P. Bole, Jr. 1937. The Birds and Mammals of the Western Slope of the Azuero Peninsula (Republic of Panama). Scientific Publications of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History 7:1-139. Angehr, George R. 2003. Directorio de areas importantes para aves en Panama. Directory of important bird areas in Panama. Panama: Sociedad Audubon de Panama. Angehr, George R., Dodge Engleman, and Lorna Engleman. 2006. Where to Find Birds in Panama: A Site Guide for Birders. Panama Audubon Society, Panama City, Panama. Delgado, Francisco. 1985. Panama. In: Derek A. Scott & Montserrat Carbonell (compilers), A Directory of Neotropical Wetlands, pp. 420-438. IUCN, Cambridge, U.K. Morrison, R. I. G., R. W. Butler, E. S. Delgado, and R. K. Ross. 1998. Atlas of Nearctic shorebirds and other waterbirds on the coast of Panama. Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa. Rodríguez, Julio A. 1996. Inventario de la Avifauna de los Manglares del Golfo de Montijo, Veraguas. Universidad de Panamá, Panamá. Wetmore, Alexander. 1965. The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 1. Tinamidae (Tinamous) to Rhynchopidae (Skimmers). Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. Wetmore, Alexander. 1968. The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 2. Columbidae (Pigeons) to Picidae (Woodpeckers). Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. Wetmore, Alexander. 1973. The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 3. Passeriformes: Dendrocolaptidae (Woodcreepers) to Oxyruncidae (Sharpbill). Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. Wetmore, Alexander, Roger F. Pasquier, and Storrs L. Olson. 1984. The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 4. Passeriformes: Hirundinidae (Swallows) to Fringillidae (Finches). Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.