Punta Garachiné-Cerro Sapo (19338)
Panama, Central America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Punta Garachiné-Cerro Sapo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 8.0333, Longitude: -78.4000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1145
Area of KBA (km2): 110.78734
Protected area coverage (%): 3.37
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site includes the area from Punta Garachiné at the southwest end of the Gulf of San Miguel to the boundary of Darién National Park at Cerro Sapo and the Jesús River. On its eastern side the boundary follows the 100 m contour above the valleys of the San Antonio and Sambu Rivers, extending westward to the coast, and the site also includes the forest on Punta Garachiné. The highest point is Cerro Sapo (1,145 m). The site is adjacent to the Ensenada de Garachiné Wetlands.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The globally near-threatened Russet-crowned Quail-Dove and Rufous-cheeked Hummingbird are found, as well as several nationally threatened species, including the endemic Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker, Yellow-green Tyrannulet and Pirre Bush Tanager. Endemics of both the Darién Lowlands and Darién Highland EBAs occur in the area. Cerro Sapo has been visited by two ornithological expeditions, in 1925 and 1941, but is difficult of access and otherwise poorly known. Non-bird biodiversity: The fauna is poorly known. Many of the species recorded for Darién National Park probably occur. The toad Atelopus certus occurs.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The area includes lowland semideciduous and lowland evergreen forest, with submontane evergreen forest and cloud forest on Cerro Sapo. The town of Garachiné is located east of the site. The region is inhabited by latinos, Emberá-Wounaan and afrocolonials (darienitas) and devoted to fishing and subsistence agriculture with some cattle.
Land use: agriculture | hunting | not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 48 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The extent of timber harvest in the area or clearing for agriculture is unknown, but the Garachiné area is remote and population pressure is low. Although nominally part of teh Chepogana Forest Reservem there is little effective protection of this 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. Ridgely, Robert S., and John A. Gwynne. 1989. A Guide to the Birds of Panama (Second Edition). Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. 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.