El Montuoso Forest Reserve (19295)
Panama, Central America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Reserva Forestal El Montuoso
Central coordinates: Latitude: 7.7167, Longitude: -80.8333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 100 to 987
Area of KBA (km2): 132.54976
Protected area coverage (%): 92.53
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site includes the peaks of El Montuoso (987 m), Cerros El Ñuco (866 m), Gato de la Peña (700 m), and Garanganos (686 m), and Loma del Cántaro (640 m) near the northern end of the cordillera that runs along the western side of the Azuero Peninsula. It contains the headwaters of the Villa River, flowing into Parita Bay, and the Mariato, Angulo, and Tebario Rivers, flowing into the Golfo de Mon-tijo. The reserve’s lowest points (c. 100 m) are on the Mariato and Tebario. It can be reached by dirt road via the town of Las Minas.
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: The globally threatened Brown-backed Dove and Three-wattled Bellbird occur. El Montuoso is one of four known sites for the former, the others being Coiba National Park, Cébaco Island, and Cerro Hoya National Park. The Bellbird is seasonally present and probably breeds. Two species of the Central American Pacific Slope EBA occur, Brown-backed Dove and Orange-collared Manakin. Non-bird biodiversity: The fauna other than birds is poorly known. Coiba Howler, Central American Spider Monkey, Neotropical River Otter, Ocelot, and Jaguarundi have been recorded. Jaguar and Puma formerly occurred in the area but are very rare if still present. Panamanian Spiny Pocket-Mouse and Darien Harvest Mouse probably occur. There is no information about reptiles and amphibians but the frog Eleutherodactylus azueroensis could occur.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Semideciduous forest, but with some submontane elements including Podocarpus trees, is found on the higher peaks. The area is inhabited by latinos. Much of it has been deforested for cattle and subsistence agriculture.
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 | |
| Forest | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area has been extensively deforested for timber and for conversion to cattle pasture. Only about 2,050 ha (20%) of the area within the reserve is still forested, mostly on El Montuoso and Cerro Gato de la Peña above 600 m. Although access can be difficult in the rainy season, the site has some potential for tourism due to interesting pre-Columbian rock carvings.
Additional information
References: Angehr, George R. 2003. Directorio de areas importantes para aves en Panama. Directory of important bird areas in Panama. Panama: Sociedad Audubon de Panama. Ridgely, Robert S., and John A. Gwynne. 1989. A Guide to the Birds of Panama (Second Edition). Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.