IUCN Management Category Proposed National Park

Biogeographical Province 1.21.12 (Madrean-Cordilleran)

Geographical Location The park is on the international borders between Guatemala and El Salvador; 14°26'N, 89°22'W.

Date and History of Establishment Under management and protected but not yet legally established.

Area 1,990 ha approximately.

Land Tenure The majority of the land is privately owned.

Altitude From 1,600 to 2,418m.

Physical Features Montecristo is the last remaining patch of virgin forest in the country. There are three main peaks: Cerro Brujo (2,140m), Cerro Miramundo (2,394m), and Cerro Redondo and Cerro Montecristo (2,418m).This area is the wettest of El Salvador with annual rainfall over 2,000mm. The daily temperature oscillates from 10°C to 15°C.

Climate No information

Vegetation There are two main forest associations. The first is the pine-oak association that goes from 1,000 to 2,100m. Today, there are only a few patches of forest of this association, the species being Pinus oocarpa and Quercus spp. Other species in this association are the sweet gum Liquidambar styraciflua, Perymenium spp., Clethra vulcanicola, Nectandra sinuata and Cedrela mexicana. The other is the cloud dorest dominated by oaks Quercus spp. and several species of Lauraceae. There is a large diversity of plants, including orchids, epiphytes, lichens and ferns.

Fauna The Montecristo forest is the last remaining habitat for species of wildlife that have been exterminated in the lowlands; among others the following mammal species occur in the area: the Guatemala howler monkey Alouatta villosa (I), brocket deer Mazama americana, white-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari. The following bird species, which are in danger of extinction, are present: quetzal Pharomacrus moccino (V), Penelopina nigra and Dryobates villosus. Among the species threatened in the country but still found in the area are the following mammals: spider monkey Ateles geoffroyi (V), Mexican tree porcupine Coendu mexicanus, central American cacomistle Bassariscus sumichrasti, spotten skunk Spilogale putorius, hooded skunk Mephitis macroura, hog-nosed skunk Conepatus leuconatus, puma Felis concolor and white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus. Among the bird species: white-faced quail dove Geoyrtrygon linearis albifascies, band-tailed pigeon Columba fasciata, barred owl Strix varia fulvescens, garnet throated hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami, green violetear Colibri thalassimus, collared trogon Trogon collaris, blue-throated motmot Aspatha gularis, emerald toucanet Aula corhynchus prasinus, Fernandina's flicker Colaptes fernindinae mexicanoides, mountain wren Troglodytes solshitialis, black-billed thrush Turdus ignobilis, black-throated jay Cyanolyca pumilo and spot-crowned woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis.

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population No information

Visitors and Visitor Facilities No information

Scientific Research and Facilities A few basic studies on the avifauna and orchids.

None.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Partial.

Not yet established.

Management Constraints Subsistence agriculture activities had invaded the cloud forest from 1,800 to 2,100m, eliminating much of the pine-oak forest association, prior to establishment of protection and management activities. Recovery will be slow.

Staff A superintendent and eight guards.

Budget This park does not have a specific budget (see country sheet).

Local Addresses

Lic. Manuel Benitez, Jefe Unidad de Parques Nacionales y Reservas Equivalentes, Servicio de Parques Nacionales y Vida Silvestre, DIGERENARE, MAG, Canton El Matasano, Soyapango, El Salvador.

References

Daughtery, H.E. (1973). Conservacion ambiental en El Salvador; recomendaciones para un programa de accion nacional. M.S., 60 pp.

Date 15 June 1981.