Llanganates - Sangay Connectivity Corridor (200882)
Ecuador, South America

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, A1e, B1, B2, B3a

Year of last assessment: 2024

National site name: Corredor de Conectividad Llanganates - Sangay

Central coordinates: Latitude: -1.4219, Longitude: -78.1895

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 800 to 3750

Area of KBA (km²): 919.98256

Protected area coverage (%): 4.54

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: No

Site details

Site description: This KBA is very important for the connectivity and conservation between two of the most representative and biggest andean-amazonian national parks in Ecuador. This KBA connects the south of Llanganates National Park and the north of the Sangay National Park. It connects three provinces, Tungurahua, Pastaza and Morona Santiago. The altitudinal range goes from 800 - 3750m. In December 2022, the government of Ecuador decided to the expand this corridor longitudinally to cover more amazonian subtropics and upper interandean dry valley. The ecosystems here, are: upper montane, montane and lower montane evergreen forest of the northeastern slope of the Andes and the flooded forest of the alluvial plain of the rivers from the Andean-Amazonian slope. Plus, vegetation of the upper central Andean valley.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least eight criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. 44 threatened of extinction, poorly known and range restricted species of fauna and flora meets the next KBA criteria: Noblella naturetrekii (A1a, A1e, B1, B2, B3a); Nymphargus anomalus (A1a, B2, B3a); Osornophryne simpsoni (A1a, B2); Caecilia abitaguae (A1a, B2, B3a); Hyalinobatrachium adespinosai (B1, B2, B3a); Phylloscartes gualaquizae (B2); Urosticte ruficrissa (B2); Pristimantis bellae (A1a, B2, B3a); Pristimantis eriphus (A1b, B2); Lipaugus fuscocinereus (B2); Pristimantis mallii (A1a, B2); Pristimantis rubicundus (B2, B3a); Pristimantis tinguichaca (A1b, B1, B2); Riama balneator (A1a, B2, B3a); Strabomantis cornutus (A1a, B2); Synophis bogerti (B1); Anolis fitchi (B2, B3a); Atelopus palmatus (A1a, A1c, A1e, B2, B3a); Atractus resplendens (B1, B2, B3a); Bolitoglossa palmata (B2, B3a); Gelanesaurus flavogularis (B1, B2, B3a); Grallaria gigantea (A1b); Trilepida anthracina (A1b, B2); Hyloscirtus sethmacfarlanei (B1, B2); Mazama rufina (A1b, A1d); Nephelomys auriventer (B2); Pholidobolus dicrus (B1, B2); Pristimantis churuwiai (A1b, B2, B3a); Pristimantis loujosti (B1, B2); Pristimantis maryanneae (B1, B2); Riama meleagris (B1, B2, B3a); Urochroa leucura (B2); Tapirus pinchaque (A1a); Selvasaura almendarizae (B1, B2); Siphlophis ayauma (B2, B3a); Thomasomys erro (B2); Anolis orcesi (B2, B3a); Thomasomys fumeus (B2); Xenerpestes singularis (B2); Stenocercus angulifer (B2); Hylaeamys tatei (B2); Galbula pastazae (B2); Pristimantis burtoniorum (B1, B2) and Tropidophis cacuangoae (B1).

Additional biodiversity: Vultur gryphus. Spizaetus isidori. Panthera onca. Puma concolor.

Manageability of the site: This corridor is officially recognized by the environmental authority of Ecuador (Ministry of environment, water and ecological transition). Local governments and NGOs are involved in different conservation initiatives (EcoMinga and WWF).

Supersedes another site: KBA ID32047 Manteles-El Triunfo-Sucre; Llanganates-Sangay Ecological Corridor ID 14557

Delineation rationale: On north Llanganates national park and Napo river. On east the amazonian foothills of Pastaza province (agricultural areas and remnants of forest including the surroundings of Puyo city). On southeast, Palora outskirts and Sangay national park for almost all the southern limits. On west, the andean regions near Patate on the upper part and southwest, the town of Baños.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	30	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland
Forest	50	Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane
Artificial - Aquatic	4	Rural Gardens

Threats

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Wood & pulp plantations	Small-holder plantations	Ongoing
Pollution	Domestic & urban waste water	Sewage
Geological events	Volcanoes		Ongoing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Other ecosystem modifications
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Shifting agriculture	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Marine & freshwater aquaculture	Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants	Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Named species	Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Tourism & recreation areas		Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Nomadic grazing	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Dams & water management/use	Dams (size unknown)	Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Persecution/control	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants	Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing

Additional information