Data Zone
Country/territory: Cuba
IBA criteria met: A1, A2, A3, A4i (2008)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 96,216 hectares (962.16 km2)
Site description (2008 baseline)
Ciénaga de Lanier y Sur de la Isla de la Juventud IBA is in the
southern part of Isla de la Juventud, in the Canarreos
Archipelago, off the south coast of western Cuba. It includes
the Ciénaga de Lanier, which stretches from Ensenada de
Siguanea to the eastern Ensenada of San Juan, and divides
the north of the island from the karstic plains and coastal
zones to the south. The IBA supports a wide diversity of
wetland and coastal habitats. Cocodrilo and Cayo Piedras
with 300 and 20 inhabitants, respectively, are located within
the IBA, whereas the communities of Santa Fé, Mella, and
La Reforma are in surrounding areas.
Key biodiversity
This IBA is notable for its resident and migratory waterbirds,
including globally significant populations of the Vulnerable
West Indian Whistling-duck Dendrocygna arborea and the
resident subspecies of Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis nesiotes.
Terrestrial species include the Endangered Giant Kingbird
Tyrannus cubensis and a huge population of Near Threatened
White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala .
Non-bird biodiversity: Reptiles include the Endangered Cuban crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer, and the Vulnerable American crocodile C. acutus and Cuban ground iguana Cyclura nubila. The hutia Mysateles meridionalis is endemic to Isla de la Juventud, and the fish Atractosteus tristoechus is restricted to Zapata and Lanier swamps.
Acknowledgements
Authors: SUSANA AGUILAR, JUAN PEDRO SOY, ARYANNE CERRANO
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cienaga de Lanier y Sur de la Isla de la Juventud (Cuba). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/cienaga-de-lanier-y-sur-de-la-isla-de-la-juventud-iba-cuba on 22/12/2024.