Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
Monterrico-Rio La Paz is the second largest mangrove area on the Guatemalan Pacific coast, and includes important dry forest areas. The site is bordered by El Salvador in the East.
Monterrico-Rio La Paz is important for biome-restricted species of the Pacific Arid Slope, of which six species were recorded (Robbins & Dowell 1992, Dickerman 2007). Although not of global importance, the site support large numbers of resident and migrating waterbirds (Eisermann 2006).
The site contains 4500 ha of mangrove, equaling 23% of the IBA. Other coastal wetland habitat (rivers and canals, swamps, lagoons, and beaches) cover 25%. About 45% of the site is used for agriculture (sugar cane plantations, pasture, corn fields) and 5% for salinas and shrimp farms (MAGA 2006).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Terrestrial habitat is threatened by an advancing agricultural border. Wetland habitat and waterbird populations are threatened by subsistence fisheries and shrimp larva harvest (Sigüenza de Micheo & Ruiz Ordoñez 2000), burning reed for the harvest of a snail, and mangrove deforestation for the use as fuel for salt production and firewood (Eisermann 2006).
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently monitoring West Nile Virus in bird populations.
Currently about 11% of the IBA are legally protected in a multiple use area (CONAP 2007).
The Museum of Natural History Jorge Ibarra, hosted a workshop in Guatemala City in June 2006. This first assessment of IBAs in Guatemala was conducted by Sociedad Guatemalteca de Ornitología and BirdLife International in the Americas.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Monterrico - Río La Paz (Guatemala). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/monterrico--río-la-paz-iba-guatemala on 26/12/2024.
