Atachi Bakka (23899)
French Guiana, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e
Year of last assessment: 2021
National site name: Atachi Bakka
Central coordinates: Latitude: 3.5937, Longitude: -53.9308
Area of KBA (km2): 551.05482
Protected area coverage (%): 99.42
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This area is located 20 kilometers south-east of Maripa Soula, on the Maroni, 2 days by canoe from St Laurent (or 45 minutes from Cayenne by plane). It mainly delimits the 'Machoulou' forest mountain range of more than 350m in altitude among the Atachi-Bakka Mountains, which extend between the Litani River to the west, the Tampok River to the south and the Grand Inini River to the north and to the East. This relief includes a large tabular summit (up to 2km) oriented northwest / southeast, one of the highest peaks in French Guiana.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site contains the entire known extant population of the critically endangered amphibian Anomaloglossus degranvillei. Seventeen bird species meet legacy KBA critera and require reassessessment under the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: Capito niger Corapipo gutturalis Crax alector Cyanicterus cyanicterus Frederickena viridis Galbula albirostris Gymnopithys rufigula Herpsilochmus stictocephalus Isleria guttata Microbates collaris Monasa atra Notharchus macrorhynchos Penelope marail Perissocephalus tricolor Pyrilia caica Rupicola rupicola Selenidera piperivora
Other site values: Atachi Bakka occurs within the buffer zone/area of adhesion of Guyana Amazonian National Park
Delineation rationale: Site was initially delineated in 2008 as an Important Bird Area. Delineation was maintained during 2018 amphibian AZE update.
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing |