Laguna Blanca National Park (19541)
Argentina, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Parque Nacional Laguna Blanca
Central coordinates: Latitude: -39.0303, Longitude: -70.3522
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Area of KBA (km2): 112.44609
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Laguna Blanca NP comprises a succession of high plateaus and hills of conical design with gentle slopes and steep-walled fences that, together with three steppe lagoons, make up the main body of the area, located at 1,270 m above sea level, in the Zapala department. only 30 km from the homonymous city, in the province of Neuquén. Its main lagoon of alkaline waters, covers 1,700 ha and about 30 km of coastal areas, with the presence of hydrophytic plants, rooted in the bottom of the mirror, protecting important concentrations of aquatic birds, for this reason the place was categorized as a wetland of international interest or Ramsar site. There are also other minor lagoons in the park: Verde, del Hoyo, San Antonio, del Jabón, Oliva, de los Huesos, El Molle, del Overo and Blanca Chica, in almost all of them there is a dominant aquatic plant, the vinagrillo (Myriophyllum elatinoides ) used by several species of aquatic birds for nesting and are important to the Patagonia Frog (Atelognathus patagonicus)
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: Laguna Blanca National Park protects important populations of the threatened species Atelognathus patagonicus. The Spectacled Duck (Speculanas specularis) and Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) meet KBA criteria D1a, while an additional 8 species of birds meet Legacy Criteria and are a priority for re-assessment against the Global KBA Standard.
Manageability of the site: This site corresponds to a National Park.
Delineation rationale: The existing KBA boundary for this site is slightly off from the National Park boundary. The revised KBA boundary results from the merging of Laguna Blanca National Park (WDPAID: 19) with Laguna Blanca National Reserve (WDPAID: 61819) follow the WDPA boundary for this site.