Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
The Chimán Wetlands include extensive mudflats (11,400 ha), up to three km wide, and coastal mangroves (18,300 ha) from the Ensenada de Corral at the mouth of the La Maestra River eastward to Punta Bruja, at the base of the Serranía de Majé). The site merges with the Upper Bay of Panama IBA to the west. Short rivers from the Serranía drain into the area, including the Platanares and Chimán. There are small villages at Chimán at the mouth of the Chimán River and at Punta Brujas, and a few other settlements inland.
The site is an important area for migratory shorebirds. The highest single day count was 11,663 in October 1991, of which 6,044 were small shorebirds. Taking turnover into account, 22,000 small shorebirds may use the area during autumn migration. Based on one-day counts, this area may contain 1.7% of the North American population of Whimbrel.
Non-bird biodiversity: Neotropical River Otter, Crab-eating Raccoon, and American Crocodile probably occur.
The area consists of extensive intertidal mudflats and mangroves. The area inland is inhabited by latinos and Emberá, and devoted to subsistence agriculture and cattle.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Mangroves throughout Panama are threatened by extraction for wood, tannin, and charcoal. The area inland from the site is now heavily deforested, but the impact on mangroves is unknown.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
None known
The area is unprotected.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Chimán Wetlands (Panama). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/chimán-wetlands-iba-panama on 24/11/2024.
