Bigi Pan (23529)
Suriname, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Bigi Pan
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.9483, Longitude: -56.7538
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): -6 to 23
Area of KBA (km2): 1444.00425
Protected area coverage (%): 99.46
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Bigi Pan IBA is a Multiple use management Area which means that it has more functions than only nature protection. There is a lot of fischery in the shallow lagoons and on the mudflats, and there is legal and illegal hunting in the swamps. As with al wetlands the Bigi Pan is important for mankind because of its biological functions such as, nursery for seafish, waterfiltering and protection from rising seawaterlevel. A high biodiversity makes this site suitable for especially tourism and recreation.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The Bigi Pan is part of an EBA because of the common occurence of three range restricted species, Guyanian Piculet, Blood-colored Woodpecker and Rufous Crabhawk. The mudflats and the swamps are important for the numurous North-American shorebirds.The 1% treshold is met for American woodstork, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Semi-palmated plover, Short-billed Dowitcher. Hence it is an IBA on A2, A4i and A4iii criteria. Further it's important as a fouraging area for Scarlet Ibis outside the breeding season. Bubo virginianis is breeding here. Non-bird biodiversity: The Bigi Pan area is rich in fish species. This area is also known as a habitat for the jaguar.
Other site values: The Bigi Pan area is owned by the state Suriname is placed at the disposal of the Ministry of Physical Planning Land and Forest Management.
Delineation rationale: Total area is 136,000 ha but only 68,000 is land area, the rest corresponds to mudflats. Otte Ottema. Dec.2008
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Land is used for agriculture (rice) in Wageningen, fishery, hunting and tourism in the pans.
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | hunting | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 18 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 50 | |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 9 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 18 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Large scale poaching. Pollution with chemicals from rice fields. There is also a rumor that airplanes are dumping residues of chemicals on the mudflats.
Additional information
References: Bigi Pan Mangementplan 1990.