Kabalebo / Arapahu (23539)
Suriname, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Kabalebo / Arapahu
Central coordinates: Latitude: 4.1870, Longitude: -57.6055
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 10 to 934
Area of KBA (km2): 16825.33184
Protected area coverage (%): 1.52
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Kabalebo/Arapahu IBA is situated in between CSNR and the Corantijn river, the border with Guyana. Almost the whole watershed of the Kabalebo river is in the IBA. It is covered with pristine rainforest on terra firma, swamp and liana forest. In the north-west there is fishing and hunting by local indiginous people from Apoera. There is ecotourism near the Kabalebo airstrip and on Arapahu, an island in the south-west corner of the IBA. It is important for the Green Ibis. There has been done very little scientific research.
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: Two near-threathened species occur in the IBA, Morphnus guianensis Crested Eagle, and Harpia harpyja Harpy Eagle. The total number of species is 500 of which 27 are biome restricted. The total number of species is so low because there has been done very little research. The population of Green Ibises has been estimated at more than 4000, this is more than 5 times the 1% threshold. Hence it is an IBA on A1, A4i and A3 criteria. Non-bird biodiversity: Not known.
Other site values: Owned by state. In the north-western part Indigenous people from Apura have traditional hunting and fishing rights. Kabalebo Airstrip is leased by tour operator, Arapahu island in the south-west is leased by tour operator.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Tourism on the rivers and in the forest near Kabalebo airstrip and near Arapahu. In the North-west of the IBA is fishing and hunting by the Indiginous people from Apoera.
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | hunting | not utilised | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 1 | |
| Forest | 99 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There are plans to make a hydro electrical lake in the Kabalebo water basement. This will distroy a large area of the IBA and would be a threat for the Mesembrinibis cayenensis, Green ibis. But the plans are very uncertain.