Yacuri National Park (200649)
Ecuador, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1d, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Parque Nacional Yacuri
Central coordinates: Latitude: -4.6477, Longitude: -79.3166
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 2230 to 3700
Area of KBA (km2): 435.99381
Protected area coverage (%): 97.22
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: This KBA is an iconic paramo and upper montane forest national park located in Zamora-Chinchipe province on the borders with Peru. Located in an altitudinal range of 2250 to 3700m. The special characteristic of this KBA is that it covers the paramo and upper regions of two rare southern ecosystems, the southeastern ecuadorian eastern slope of the andes (Amazon) and the upper and cold tumbesian influenced region on far southwest. The main landscapes and ecosystems are: the evergreen shrublands and páramo Grasslands on the center of the KBA (highest region). On the western side, upper montane evergreen forest of southwestern Ecuador. On east, upper montane and montane evergreen forest of the southeastern slope of the Andes. Surrounded by some agricultural lands with remnants of lower montane and foothills of the eastern slope of the Andes towards the town of San Andrés on its borders.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least five criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Threatened species like, four endangered amphibians, Gastrotheca turnerorum (A1a, B2), Gastrotheca yacuri (A1a, B2), Pristimantis chomskyi (A1a, B2) and Lynchius parkeri (A1a, B2). Moreover, two vulnerable rain-frogs, Pristimantis atratus (A1b, B2) and Pristimantis multicolor (A1b, B1, B2). Additionally, two threatened medium size and big mammals, the endangered Mountain Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) (A1a), and the vulnerable dwarf red brocket, Mazama rufina (A1d). On regards of birds, one threatened onf extinction and six range restricted birds of the montane cloud forests and southern paramos trigger the KBA: Tephrophilus wetmorei (A1b, B2); Doliornis remseni (B2); Scytalopus parkeri (B2); Heliangelus micraster (B2); Asthenes griseomurina (B2); Nephelomyias lintoni (B2) and Metallura odomae (B2).
Additional biodiversity: Vultur gryphus, Tremarctos ornatus, Spizaetus isidori, Leopardus tigrinus. If confirmed the rare and data deficient, Lagidium ahuacaense might be present here.
Manageability of the site: This is a national park administrated by the government of Ecuador.
Supersedes another site: Bosque Protector Colambo-Yacuri (14600)
Other site values: NA
Delineation rationale: On southwest the limits with Peru. On north and northeast the limits with the western slope of the Andes, the remnants of vegetation and agricultural fields of Jimbura and Amaluza (some of this are a different KBA). On south and west the healty but unprotected forests of the southeastern foothill region towards las Juntas and Palanda region. NOTE: at the end of November this park was expanded to certain regions that were identified as different KBAs by our analysis.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 1 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane |
| Shrubland | 70 | Shrubland – Subtropical/tropical high altitude |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Universidad Técnica Particular de Lola: Diego Armijos (amphibians)
Universidad Católica del Ecuador: Santiago Ron (amphibians)
Experts participating in the workshops of amphibians, birds and non-flying micromammals.