Santiaguito Volcano (20371)
Guatemala, Central America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1d, A1e, B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Volcán Santiaguito
Central coordinates: Latitude: 14.7500, Longitude: -91.6300
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Area of KBA (km2): 1214.87996
Protected area coverage (%): 25.19
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Santiaguito Volcano is located in the Guatemalan volcanic belt, bordered in the West by IBA Tacana-Tajumulco and in the East by IBA Atitlan. The site includes volcano Santiaguito, one of Guatemala’s active volcanoes, and the major volcanoes Santa María, Santiaguito, Chicabal, and Santo Tomás. The site ranges in altitude from 500 to 3600 m. About 150 years ago began the establishment of coffee plantations, which caused an extensive loss of habitat for species like Azure-rumped Tanager and Highland Guan, which are now considered threatened. Bird populations are threatened by management deficiencies in protected areas, an advancing agricultural border, illegal logging and hunting, and forest fires.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site contains the entire known population of Pseudoeurycea goebbli. The birds Horned Guan (Oreophasis derbianus), Azure-rumped Tanager (Tangara cabanisi), Pink-headed Warbler (Ergaticus versicolor), Highland Guan (Penelopina nigra), Golden-browed Warbler (Basileuterus belli), Amethyst-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis amethystinus), Black Thrush (Turdus infuscatus), Rufous-collared Robin (Turdus rufitorques), Unspotted Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius ridgwayi), White-eared Ground-sparrow (Melozone leucotis), and Grey-crowned Ground-sparrow (Melozone occipitalis) meet KBA criteria for threatened and/or range restricted species. An additional 32 birds, two amphibians and one plant species meet legacy criteria and are in need of reassessment against the Global Standard.
Manageability of the site: Site was validated as an IBA/KBA in 2008 by BirdLife Partners. A rationale on manageability is not available.
Delineation rationale: Site was validated as an IBA/KBA in 2008 by BirdLife Partners. A delineation rationale is not available.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 4 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 1 | |
| Forest | 27 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 2 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 66 |