Machu Picchu - Choquequirao (200667)
Peru, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1e, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Machu Picchu - Choquequirao
Central coordinates: Latitude: -13.1819, Longitude: -72.5400
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 1600 to 6250
Area of KBA (km2): 8992.98599
Protected area coverage (%): 19.54
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: The KBA Machu Picchu - Choquequirao covers a total of 8992.986 sq km, and it's located in Perú, involving districts in the provinces of Anta, La Convención, Calca, and Urubamba in Cusco. The regional government of this region and the National Service for Natural Areas Protected by the State - SERNANP are working on the recognition of this area as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The climate is very variable, cold in the high-altitude grasslands (puna) and warm in the montane forest, and moderately warm in the dry forests and the inter-Andean valley, corresponding to the transition area between high-altitude grasslands, montane forest, dry forest, and inter-Andean valley. There are two distinct seasons, rainy from September to March and dry from April to August. This KBA contains the following ecosystems: Montane Yunga Forest, High Montane Yunga Forest, Wet Puna Grassland, Bog, Periglacial and Glacier Zone, Relict High Andean Forest (Polylepis - Gynoxis), Seasonally Dry Inter-Andean Forest, Andean Shrubland, High Andean Lagoons, and Modified Areas (secondary vegetation and agricultural areas).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Machu Picchu - Choquequirao qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for the A1a, A1b, A1e, B2 and B1 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBA. The KBA Machu Picchu - Choquequirao harbors 22 bird species, six amphibians, two opiliones and five plants.
Additional biodiversity: Tremarctos ornatus, Vultur gryphus, Leopardus jacobita, Andygena hipoglauca, Cranioleica albicapilla, Actionote sp, Atlapetes terborghi, Coeligena albicaudata, Xenodacnis parina, Asthenes urubambensis, Myiothlypis striaticeps, Megascops marshalli, Asthenes vilcabambae, Atlapetes tricolor, Leptosittaca branickii, Oreopanax stenophyllus, Weinmannia glomerata, Echinopsis hertrichiana.
Manageability of the site: The Regional Government of Cusco, the National Service of Natural Protected Areas by the State (Sernanp), the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of this region, the National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor), InkaTerra Association, and the National University of San Antonio Abad del Cusco are working on the creation of the Machupicchu - Choquequirao Biosphere Reserve, which would cover almost the entire KBA. Therefore, these institutions will be responsible for its management.
The National Coordination Group of KBAs has a conservation promotion and monitoring committee, which is composed of various governmental and civil society institutions that will work to promote conservation actions in the KBA.
Supersedes another site: 6 km south of Ocobamba - 29753, Abra Málaga-Vilcanota - 14682, Lagos Yanacocha - 14684, Mandorcasa - 14881,
Santuario Histórico Machu Picchu - 14817, Urubamba valley area near Taray - 47179, Madre Selva - 100294
Other site values: Rural community Abra Málaga, Rumira Sondormayo Peasant Community, Ollanta Peasant Community Source, Accha Alta peasant Community.
Delineation rationale: The KBA Machu Picchu - Choquequirao follows the following geographical boundaries: to the west, it traces the dividing line between Cusco and Apurimac, continuing along the bank of the Pampaconas River northwestward to the Chontomayo River. Heading south, it follows the limits of the districts of Limatambo, Ancahuasi, Huarocondo, Maras, Coya, and Pisac, all located in the Province of Calca. To the east, it follows the border between the provinces of Calca and Paucartambo. Lastly, to the north, it follows the boundaries of the districts of Huayopata and Santa Ana.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: This KBA contains the following ecosystems: Montane Yunga Forest, High Montane Yunga Forest, Wet Puna Grassland, Bog, Periglacial and Glacier Zone, Relict High Andean Forest (Polylepis - Gynoxis), Seasonally Dry Inter-Andean Forest, Andean Shrubland, High Andean Lagoons, and Modified Areas (secondary vegetation and agricultural areas).
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The KBA Machu Picchu-Choquequirao is currently threatened by various detrimental activities such as deforestation, forest fires, pollution, expansion of agricultural frontiers, among other activities.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Isabeu Cruz-Ríos, Joaquina Albán, Letty Salinas, Alejandra Arana, Arli Ayala, Sandra Bejar, Juan Grados, Emmy Medina, Susy Castillo, Soledad Rivera, Mónica Arakaki, César Aguilar, Andrew Snyder, Victor Sánchez and Camila Dávila.