Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
This site includes the peaks of El Montuoso (987 m), Cerros El Ñuco (866 m), Gato de la Peña (700 m), and Garanganos (686 m), and Loma del Cántaro (640 m) near the northern end of the cordillera that runs along the western side of the Azuero Peninsula. It contains the headwaters of the Villa River, flowing into Parita Bay, and the Mariato, Angulo, and Tebario Rivers, flowing into the Golfo de Mon-tijo. The reserve’s lowest points (c. 100 m) are on the Mariato and Tebario. It can be reached by dirt road via the town of Las Minas.
The globally threatened Brown-backed Dove and Three-wattled Bellbird occur. El Montuoso is one of four known sites for the former, the others being Coiba National Park, Cébaco Island, and Cerro Hoya National Park. The Bellbird is seasonally present and probably breeds. Two species of the Central American Pacific Slope EBA occur, Brown-backed Dove and Orange-collared Manakin.
Non-bird biodiversity: The fauna other than birds is poorly known. Coiba Howler, Central American Spider Monkey, Neotropical River Otter, Ocelot, and Jaguarundi have been recorded. Jaguar and Puma formerly occurred in the area but are very rare if still present. Panamanian Spiny Pocket-Mouse and Darien Harvest Mouse probably occur. There is no information about reptiles and amphibians but the frog Eleutherodactylus azueroensis could occur.
Semideciduous forest, but with some submontane elements including Podocarpus trees, is found on the higher peaks. The area is inhabited by latinos. Much of it has been deforested for cattle and subsistence agriculture.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The area has been extensively deforested for timber and for conversion to cattle pasture. Only about 2,050 ha (20%) of the area within the reserve is still forested, mostly on El Montuoso and Cerro Gato de la Peña above 600 m. Although access can be difficult in the rainy season, the site has some potential for tourism due to interesting pre-Columbian rock carvings.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
None known.
El Montuoso Forest Reserve was established in 1978. Ten forest guards are assigned to the area.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: El Montuoso Forest Reserve (Panama). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/el-montuoso-forest-reserve-iba-panama on 23/11/2024.
