Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul (200919)
Peru, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul
Central coordinates: Latitude: -7.7261, Longitude: -75.9482
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 215 to 2340
Area of KBA (km2): 13538.89625
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: The KBA Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul covers 13538.934 sq km and it is located in the department of Loreto, (province of Ucayali), in the department of San Martín, (provinces of San Martín, Picota and Bellavista), in the department of Ucayali (province of Padre Abad), and in the department of Huánuco (province of Leoncio Prado). The altitude range of the KBA Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul is 200-2300 masl. This KBA encompasses mainly tropical forest ecosystems, which are: "Selva Alta -Yunga (High Jungle - Yunga)" and "Bosque Tropical Amazónico (Amazon Rainforest)". Overall, climate is temperate and rainy over 400 masl, whereas in the Amazon plain it is hot and humid. This KBA is also a natural protected area, preserving headwaters, montane and lowland forests and several endangered species.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The KBA Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets the thresholds for A1, B1 and B2 criteria for identifying sites of biodiversity importance accorging to Global Standard for the Identification of KBA. This KBA harbors two threatened plants, four threatened and range restricted amphibians and four range restricted birds.
Additional biodiversity: Birds: Capito wallacei, Heliangelus regalis, Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus, Harpia harpyja, Henicorhuna leucoptera, Primolius couloni, Zimmerius viridiflavus, Sternula superciliaris, Tigrisoma lineatum, Pulsatrix melanota, Myiornis albiventris, Snowornis cryptolophus, Chlorochrysa calliparaea, Scytalopues femoralis, Actitis macularius, Catharus ustulatus, Heliodoxa branickii,
Mammals: Tremarctos ornatus, Lontra longicaudis, Pteronura brasiliensis, Tapirus terrestris, Tayassu tajacu.
Manageability of the site: Being a National Park, the KBA Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul is managed by the National Service of Protected Natural Areas - SERNANP (https://www.gob.pe/sernanp).
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: 29849 - 20 km NW of Boca Apua
14918 - Cordillera Azul National Park
Delineation rationale: The boundaries of the KBA Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul follows the current limits of the National Park Cordillera Azul.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Forest 80-90%
Wetland (inland) 1-10%
Land use: The KBA Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul is managed by the National Service of Protected Natural Areas - SERNANP because it is a National Park
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: This site is threatened by the use of biological resources and the effects of livestock farming, shifting agriculture and invasive species.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Oil & gas drilling | Only in the past and unlikely to return | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Only in the future | |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Geological events | Avalanches/landslides | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: MINAM (2018) National Ecosystems Map of Peru. In SINIA (National Environmental Information System). https://sinia.minam.gob.pe/mapas/mapa-nacional-ecosistemas-peru.
https://www.gob.pe/institucion/sernanp/informes-publicaciones/1948130-parque-nacional-cordillera-azul
Contributors: Letty Salinas, Alejandra Arana, Betty Millán, Victor Sánchez, Laura Graham-Angeles and Camila Dávila.