Data Zone
Country/territory: Cuba
IBA criteria met: A1, A2, A3, A4i (2008)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 530,695 hectares (5,306.95 km2)
Site description (2009 baseline)
Embracing the entire Zapata Peninsula in southern Matanzas
province, this IBA is the largest wetland in the Caribbean. It has
extensive cave lake systems with spectacular blue holes, flooded
caves and important water resources. The IBA also provides
critical habitat in the form of forest, flooded palm savannas, open
waterand salinas, reefs and mangroves. It has unique submerged
marine terraces and coral reefs, valuable archaeological and
paleontological sites, and a history of traditional use of natural
resources in the surrounding rural communities.
Key biodiversity
This IBA is home to 40 biome-restricted birds, including 21
Cuba endemics and 17 globally threatened species. The
Endangered Zapata Wren Ferminia cerverai and Zapata Rail
Cyanolimnas cerverai are endemic to the IBA. The Endangered
Cuban Sparrow Torreornis inexpectata inexpectata, Gundlach’s
Hawk Accipiter gundlachi, Blue-headed Quail-dove Starnoenas
cyanocephala and Giant Kingbird Tyrannus cubensis also occur.
The area supports large concentrations of waterbirds, including
breeding populations of Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis nesiotes
and Wood Stork Mycteria americana. This is the last site in
Cuba where the Critically Endangered Bachman’s Warbler
Vermivora bachmanii was observed, in 1964.
Non-bird biodiversity: The Endangered Cuban crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer, Vulnerable American crocodile C. acutus and Critically Endangered dwarf hutia Mesocapromys nanus occur. Globally threatened sea-turtles nest on the beaches, and the IBA supports the largest population of the endemic Endangered fish Atractosteus tristoechus, considered a living fossil.
Acknowledgements
Authors: HIRAM GONZÁLEZ, ALEJANDRO LLANES, ARTURO KIRKCONNELL
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ciénaga de Zapata (Cuba). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ciénaga-de-zapata-iba-cuba on 22/12/2024.