Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
This site includes the area from Punta Garachiné at the southwest end of the Gulf of San Miguel to the boundary of Darién National Park at Cerro Sapo and the Jesús River. On its eastern side the boundary follows the 100 m contour above the valleys of the San Antonio and Sambu Rivers, extending westward to the coast, and the site also includes the forest on Punta Garachiné. The highest point is Cerro Sapo (1,145 m). The site is adjacent to the Ensenada de Garachiné Wetlands.
The globally near-threatened Russet-crowned Quail-Dove and Rufous-cheeked Hummingbird are found, as well as several nationally threatened species, including the endemic Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker, Yellow-green Tyrannulet and Pirre Bush Tanager. Endemics of both the Darién Lowlands and Darién Highland EBAs occur in the area. Cerro Sapo has been visited by two ornithological expeditions, in 1925 and 1941, but is difficult of access and otherwise poorly known.
Non-bird biodiversity: The fauna is poorly known. Many of the species recorded for Darién National Park probably occur. The toad Atelopus certus occurs.
The area includes lowland semideciduous and lowland evergreen forest, with submontane evergreen forest and cloud forest on Cerro Sapo. The town of Garachiné is located east of the site. The region is inhabited by latinos, Emberá-Wounaan and afrocolonials (
darienitas) and devoted to fishing and subsistence agriculture with some cattle.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The extent of timber harvest in the area or clearing for agriculture is unknown, but the Garachiné area is remote and population pressure is low. Although nominally part of teh Chepogana Forest Reservem there is little effective protection of this area.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
None known.
The area is part of the Chepigana Forest Reserve (257,219 ha), created in 1984. Due to its ornithological importance, the site merits inclusion in Darien National Park.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Punta Garachiné-Cerro Sapo (Panama). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/punta-garachiné-cerro-sapo-iba-panama on 13/01/2025.
