Majé Hydrological Reserve (19335)
Panama, Central America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Reserva Hidrológica de Majé
Central coordinates: Latitude: 8.9833, Longitude: -78.7333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 67 to 1074
Area of KBA (km2): 179.60296
Protected area coverage (%): 91.67
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Majé Hydrological Reserve includes the watershed of the Majé River, one of the most important tributaries of Lake Bayano. The reserve is contained within the Serranía de Majé, an isolated mountain range on the Pacific slope. The high point (1,074 m) is located on the divide of the range in the southeast corner of the reserve.
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 Great Green Macaw occurs in the area, and the globally near-threatened Harpy and Crested Eagle, Great Curassow, Russet-crowned Quail-Dove, and Black-billed Flycatcher probably also occur, as well as many nationally threatened species. Such favored game species as Crested Guan and Great Curassow are fairly common in the more remote parts of the range. Several Darién Lowlands and Darién Highlands endemics are expected to occur by range, although specific records of most are lacking. Non-bird biodiversity: There are no published reports on the fauna. Mammals probably include Water Opossum, Central American Woolly Opossum, Silky Anteater, Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo, Geoffroy’s Tamarin, Western Night Monkey, Capybara, Crab-eating Raccoon, Neotropical River Otter, Ocelot, Margay, Jaguarundi, Puma, and Jaguar. Many of the reptiles and amphibians recorded from the Narganá Wildlands Area and Darién National Park may occur.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The reserve contains lowland semideciduous, lowland evergreen, and submontane forest. The area is inhabited mostly by Emberá-Wounaan. Local land use outside the reserve includes subsistence agriculture and cattle.
Land use: nature conservation and research | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 95 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The Serranía de Majé region is threatened by deforestation from uncontrolled colonization. Because of its economic importance for water management there is an incentive to preserve the forest of the area.
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.