Northeastern Merendon Mountains (23475)
Honduras, Central America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1e, B1
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Montañas Merendon del noreste
Central coordinates: Latitude: 15.5311, Longitude: -88.1591
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Area of KBA (km2): 553.212037
Protected area coverage (%): 97.89
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site occurs in the northeastern portion of the Merendon Mountains, in the Sierra de Omoa in Cortés Department, in northwestern Honduras. Habitats consist of pre-montane and lower montane wet forest and cloud forest which are threatened by deforestation.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site contains the entire known populations of Bolitoglossa diaphora, Craugastor merendonensis, Craugastor milesi, Cryptotriton nasalis, Oedipina tomasi, Plectrohyla dasypus, and Plectrohyla exquisita, and significant populations of Bromeliohyla melacaena. Craugastor omoaensis formerly triggered A1e but is now considered extinct. 33 bird species triggers KBA legacy criteria.
Manageability of the site: Site was identified as an IBA/KBA in 2008 by BirdLife partners and confirmed as an AZE during the 2015-2018 AZE project. Over 90% of the site site boundary falls within protected areas all managed by the Instituto de Conservación Forestal.
Delineation rationale: Site was identified as an IBA/KBA in 2008 by BirdLife partners and confirmed as an AZE during the 2015-2018 AZE project. The original delineation rationale is not available. The boundary was revised to include the full extent of San Pedro Sula, Cofradía y Naco (Merendón) Ecological Reserve (WDPAID: 555697536)