Yasuní National Park (200651)
Ecuador, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1c, A1d, B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Parque Nacional Yasuní
Central coordinates: Latitude: -1.0985, Longitude: -76.0663
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 180 to 350
Area of KBA (km2): 10421.56972
Protected area coverage (%): 98.13
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: This KBA is perhaps the most internationally famous amazonian national park of Ecuador. The studies about its biggest concentration of biodiversity per Km2 have been in every conservation campaign to protect it. Moreover, the international human rights campaign to defend non-contacted ancestral amazonian groups (Tagaeri and Taromenane) that roam and thrive in the Yasuní region. Located in the provinces of Orellana and Pastaza. The altitudinal range goes from 180 to 350m. The main ecosystem landscapes are: the lowland evergreen forests of Napo-Curaray and Tigre-Pastaza rivers. Additionally, the lowland evergreen forests of the Aguarico-Putumayo-Caquetá rivers. Different inundated ecosystems, like: the flooded forests and palm forests of the Amazon floodplains; flooded lacustrine-riparian grasslands of the alluvial Amazonian plain and, finally the floodplain forests of the alluvial plain influenced by the Andean and Amazonian Cordilleras headwaters and tributaries.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least three criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Threatened of extinction species like: Corydoras zygatus (B1); Apistogramma payaminonis (B1); Leontocebus tripartitus (B1); Neomorphus geoffroyi (A1d); Cebuella pygmaea (A1b, A1d); Bujurquina syspilus (B1); Pteronura brasiliensis (A1c); Sotalia fluviatilis (A1c); Inia geoffrensis (A1c); Thamnophilus praecox (B1); Apistogramma cruzi (B1); Corydoras zygatus (B1); Sturisoma guentheri (B1); Caquetaia myersi (B1); Chrysobrycon hesperus (B1); Otocinclus macrospilus (B1) and Agamia agami (D1a, D1b).
Additional biodiversity: Harpia harpyja, Panthera onca, Tapirus terrestris.
Manageability of the site: This is a national park managed by the environmental authority of Ecuador, Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition.
Supersedes another site: Gran Yasuní (14641)
Other site values: Part of this national park include the territories of Waorani ancestral nationality and non-contacted Tagaeri and Taromenane groups living in voluntary isolation.
Delineation rationale: This delineation follows the limits of the national park. On north, the southern limits of Bajo Napo KBA. On east, the borders with Peru. On south, the Cononaco river. The western limits are with the Waorani Ancestral Nation territories. It is important to recognize that a massive portion of this KBA includes the territories of Waoranis and Amazonian Kichwas.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 10 | Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks |
| Forest | 90 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy production & mining | Oil & gas drilling | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Shipping lanes | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Sewage | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Agro-industry plantations | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Universidad Católica del Ecuador: Santiago Ron (amphibians)
Jessica Pacheco aquatic amazonian mammals specialist (WWF)
Dr. Stella de la Torre - Universidad San Francisco de Quito (Global specialist in neotropical primates)
Participants in KBA workshops on birds, amphibians and freshwater fishes.
Gabriel Maldonado (Ministry of environment, water and ecological transition of Ecuador): information about Agamia agami colonies.