Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
This site consists of agricultural lands and remnant patches of montane and high montane forest above the town of Santa Clara, from 1,200 m up to the lower limit of La Amistad International Park at 2,000-2,200 m.
Globally threatened and near-threatened species include Black Guan, Red-fronted Parrotlet, Turquoise Cotinga, and Three-wattled Bellbird. Santa Clara is an area of altitudinal overlap between the South Central American Pacific Slope and Costa Rica and Panama Highlands EBAs, containing 8 of 16 species (50%) of the former and 26 of 54 species (48%) of the latter, as well as 26 of 68 species (38%) of biome N06. It is particularly important for species of the South Central American Pacific Slope, here at the upper limits of their ranges, since virtually all the intervening forest between 1,200 m and the fragments of the Burica Peninsula has been converted to cattle pasture. This is the only area in Panama where the globally threatened Turquoise Cotinga is regularly found. Other species of the Pacific Slope EBA include Fiery-billed Aracari (common), Cherrie's Tanager, Spot-crowned Euphonia (both fairly common), White-crested Coquette, Charming Hummingbird and Riverside Wren (all rare). There has been only one recent report of Golden-naped Woodpecker from the area, at a somewhat lower elevation. Baird's Trogon formerly occurred but now appears to be extirpated, with the last known record in 1958.
Non-bird biodiversity: Blackish Small-eared Shrew and Hartmann's Water Mouse have been collected in the area, and Central American Wooly Opossum, Chiriqui Pocket Gopher, Chiriqui Singing Mouse, Chiriqui Harvest Mouse, Naked-footed Deer Mouse, Mexican Porcupine, Olingo and several species of cats probably occur. The reptile and amphibian fauna is poorly known but many of the of the species listed for La Amistad International Park undoubtedly occur. The frogs Hyla rivularis, H. tica, Ptychohyla legleri and Eleutherodactylus rugulosus have been recorded.
The population is primarily latino with some Ngöbe. Much of the area consists of coffee plantations (both shade and sun), including family farms and large commercial operations, with cattle raising important as well. Approximately 1,600 ha (18%) of the original forest remains.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Conversion of shade coffee plantations to sun coffee and the loss of remaining forest fragments in the area are continuing threats. Shade coffee plantations use coffee varieties that require shade for best growth, and hence maintain an overstorey of trees, often remnants of the original forest. Sun coffee plantations employ varieties that grow well in direct sun, and dispense with a tree overstorey. Shade coffee retains many of the birds of native forests (Parrish and Petit 1996, Petit
et al. 1999), and is far superior to sun coffee in this respect. Pesticides used in coffee cultivation may also have a detrimental effect. At present the area consists of approximately 40% shade coffee and 15% sun coffee, with the remainder of non-forest land in cattle pasture. However, severe pruning and the removal of many individual trees is reducing the quality of many shade plantations for wildlife (L. Petit, pers. com.). Conversion of shade coffee to sun coffee, and excessive use of pesticides, might be discouraged through payment of a premium by consumers for coffee certified as "Eco-OK." An exemplary shade coffee operation in the area is that of the Hartmann family, with headquarters at Santa Clara, who have set aside the remaining forest on the property as a reserve and prohibited hunting for many years.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
None currently known.
The area is adjacent to La Amistad International Park. Because most of the area is privately owned and under cultivation, formal protection on a large scale is not feasible. Instead the area should be managed as a buffer zone for La Amistad International Park. The Hartmann family has designated part of their property as a private reserve.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Santa Clara (Panama). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/santa-clara-iba-panama on 22/11/2024.
