Sierpe Wetlands and Osa Peninsula (20414)
Costa Rica, Central America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1d, A1e, B1, B2, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Humedales de Sierpe y Península de Osa
Central coordinates: Latitude: 8.6597, Longitude: -83.4667
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Area of KBA (km2): 2272.40273
Protected area coverage (%): 72.98
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site is located in the lowlands of the South Pacific, province of Puntarenas. Most of the territory extends around the Golfo Dulce and on the Osa Peninsula. Here are the largest extensions of very humid tropical forest in Mesoamerica. These forests are distributed from sea level to 745 meters above sea level on Cerro Rincón, mostly on steep slopes (Barrantes and Lobo 2005). The site houses wetlands of great importance such as the Corcovado, Sierpe, Pejeperro, Pejeperrito and Chocuaco lagoons and mangroves, such as Térraba-Sierpe, which is the largest continuous area in the country with ca. 15,000 ha; This is located at the mouth of the Grande de Térraba and Sierpe rivers. It also houses unique wetlands in the country such as the palm forest or yolillal (Raphia taedigera) and cerillo forest (Symphonia globulifera). The marine part covered by this site includes rocky islets off the coast and the Caño Island Biological Reserve. This area records average annual rainfall ranging from 3,000-3,800 mm in the lower parts and up to 6,000 mm in the mountain tops (Hartshorn 1983). The dry season is short and unmarked or with sporadic rains, from December to March (Lobo and Bolaños 2005). The rainy season occurs between March and November, it is severe and of a torrential type, the rivers periodically cause floods (Herrera 1986), leaving pools or temporary lagoons in the lowlands. The annual average temperature is 26ºC in the lowlands and a little cooler in the mountainous parts. The site contains the largest extension of very humid tropical forest in the country, although there are also other life zones (Holdridge 1971) such as tropical humid forest, premontane rain forest and premontane very humid forest, increasing the diversity of landscapes in the region. region.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site contains the entire known population of the Black-cheeked Ant-tanager, while an additional 20 species of birds meet A1a, A1b, A1d, B1, B2, and/or D1a and eight species meet legacy KBA criteria and are in need of reassessment. This site was formerly an AZE for Craugastor taurus. It is now considered extinct in this location and no longer meets any criteria.
Manageability of the site: Site was identified as an IBA/KBA in 2008 by BirdLife partners. A manageability rationale is not available.
Delineation rationale: Site was identified as an IBA/KBA in 2008 by BirdLife partners. A delineation rationale is not available.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 7 |