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A GLOBAL
OVERVIEW OF WETLAND AND MARINE
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Print the PDF File |
A GLOBAL
OVERVIEW OF WETLAND AND MARINE
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1. NATURAL WORLD HERITAGE SITES WITH MAJOR WETLAND AND MARINE VALUES
Key:
WH World Heritage List (Date of Inscription) and criteria categories
WHD World Heritage in Danger
Ramsar A Wetland of International Importance under the Convention
on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971)
(MR) Montreux Record (register of Wetlands of International
Importance requiring priority attention)
BR UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve
WWF- 200 Included in the WWF- 200 Global Ecoregions system. (1995).
The Ecoregion number is given in brackets.
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COUNTRY |
SITE NAME |
AREA |
WETLAND VALUES |
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NEARCTIC REALM |
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CANADA |
1. Wood
Buffalo National Park |
4,480,000ha |
Wood Buffalo National Park comprises a vast wilderness area of the Northern Boreal Plains and includes a section of the Peace-Athabasca Delta and most of the Whooping Crane Summer Range, both of which were designated as Ramsar sites in 1982. This is the only breeding site of whooping crane (E), with 40 breeding pairs out of 140 individuals which summer in the park. The site has a major freshwater delta formed by three major rivers; and alluvial river lowlands. The Peace-Athabasca Delta is the largest inland delta in the world, and is an important area for migrant waterfowl including snow geese, white-fronted geese Canada geese, whistling swan, divers, all seven species of North American grebe and 25 species of duck. Other features present are oxbow lakes, birds-foot delta, saline plains (unique in Canada), sinkholes, submerged rivers and a complex recharge-discharge hydrology featuring swallow holes and cold springs, some with mineralised water, and vast areas of muskeg with shallow lakes and meandering creeks. The park contains the largest undisturbed grass and sedge meadows in North America. |
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MEXICO |
2. Whale
Sanctuary of El Vizcaino |
370,950ha |
Consists of two lagoons: Laguna Ojo de Liebre and Laguna San Ignacio. These lagoons are an important wintering site for grey whales and birds, and a significant nesting area for three of the world's seven marine turtle species: green turtle (E), hawksbill turtle (E), and olive ridley turtle (E). The mangrove forest is at its northern limit in the North Pacific. |
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USA |
3. Everglades
National Park |
592,920ha |
Everglades National Park is an area of exceptional conservation value as it includes the largers mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere; the most significant breeding grounds for tropical wading birds in North America; the only subtropical preserve in North America; and the habitat for some 14 endangered species, including manatee (V), and the federally endangered bald eagle. The wetland-dependant Everglades mink is also present. The park serves as a vital recharge are for the Biscayne Aquifer, a major source of freshwater for Miami and south-east Florida. |
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USA |
4. Olympic
National Park |
369,660ha |
Olympic National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty combining Pacific Ocean coastline and numerous offshore islands with forested mountain slopes, alpine parklands and glacier capped mountains. Nearly 1,000km of streams and rivers in the park are inhabited by some 20 native fish species, including seven species of anadromous salmon and trout. Endemic Olympic fauna includes Beardslee trout and Crescenti trout. |
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USA |
5. Yellowstone
National Park |
898,349ha |
Yellowstone provides a clear record of volcanic eruptions which have occurred over the past 55 million years and contains over 3,000 geysers (more than the total of the rest of the world) and almost 10,000 thermal features, which contain unique assemblages of thermal algae and bacteria. The park lies at the headwaters of three major rivers, including the Yellowstone which is a major tributary of the Missouri River that flows via the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. Yellowstone Lake (37,127ha) with a known depth of 119m, is North America's largest high elevation lake (2,357m). Other notable features are the endangered bald eagle and trumpeter swan as well as over 40 named waterfalls, the highest being Lower Yellowstone Falls (94m). |
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PALEARCTIC REALM |
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BULGARIA |
6. Srébarna
Nature Reserve |
600ha |
Located within the nature reserve, Srebarna is freshwater lake situated on the flood plain of the River Danube, to which it was connected until 1949. The disconnection prevented annual flooding and the level of the lake fell one metre per year. However, the lake was reconnected by canal in 1978. The reserve was set up primarily to protect the rich avifauna; nearly 180 bird species (half of the total Bulgarian avifauna). 80 of the bird species are migratory and 99 are breeding species, including the only pair of white-tailed eagle (V) and the only colony of the Bulgarian Dalmatian pelican (V)(50-100 pairs) with 50 to 100 pairs. A number of rare marsh plants are present. |
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FRANCE |
7. Cape
Girolata, Cape Porto, Scandola Natural Reserve, and the Piano Calanches
in Corsica |
12,000ha |
The site has a typical marine fauna for the Mediterranean and contains a diverse pelagic, sedentary and migrant fauna including several dozen pairs of shag and three or four pairs of osprey, with Cory's shearwater and Audouin's gull (R) occurring in the littoral zone. Mediterranean monk seal (E) once had a colony in this area but has now disappeared. |
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ROMANIA |
8. Danube
Delta |
679,222ha |
The Delta is the meeting point of Palaearctic and Mediterranean biogeographic zones and represents an unique dynamic wetland ecosystem in Europe (the second largest delta) containing a rich biodiversity of wetland habitats. It is the largest continuous marshland in Europe with probably the greatest stretch of reedbeds in the world. It is also a vitally important buffer system between the hydrographical basin of the River Danube and the Black Sea. The site is internationally significant for birds, both breeding and migratory, including a number of globally-threatened species. Pygmy cormorant (K) (2,500 pairs - 61% of the world's population), white pelican (2,500 pairs - 50% of the Palaearctic breeding population), Dalmatian pelican (E) (estimated at 150 pairs, perhaps now only 25-40 pairs, on the floating islands on lake Hrecisca - 5% of the world population). There are large numbers of wintering waterfowl, including red-breasted goose (a globally threatened species with almost 95% of the world wintering population present here), and there are 30-40 white-tailed eagles (R) in winter. The fish include threatened representatives of the Acipensenidae. |
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RUSSIAN FEDERATION |
9. Lake
Baikal |
8,800,000ha |
Lake
Baikal, 3.15 million ha, which is the focal point of the nominated property,
is the deepest lake in the world, has the greatest volume of any freshwater
lake in the world (23,000 km³ - equivalent to approx. 20% of all running
fresh water in the world) and is the sixth largest in terms of open water
area. It is the oldest major lake in the world at 25 million years and
has exceptionally clear water (up to 40m visibility), and a mineral content
25-50% lower than most other freshwater lakes. There are 365 rivers flowing
into the Lake, and only one, the Angara River, flowing out. Ongoing tectonic
activity is evidenced by the presence of thermal vents in the depths of
the Lake. |
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RUSSIAN FEDERATION |
10. Volcanoes
of Kamchatka |
3,300,000ha |
The property is one of the most highly active volcanic zones in the world. The five units that make up the property are characterised by a diverse set of volcanic phenomena: geysers, mineral and hot springs. Kronotsky and Kurilskoe, two major lakes in the area, are highly scenic and important fish spawning habitat. There are several nationally threatened bird species, including emperor goose, brent goose, osprey, Steller's sea-eagle and solitary snipe. There are numerous seabird colonies and 50% of the global population of Aleutian Tern nest on the Peninsula. The rivers support great numbers of four nationally threatened species of salmon. |
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SPAIN |
11. Doñana
National Park |
50,720ha |
The site is one of the largest and best-known wetlands in Europe. It represents the last tract of relatively undisturbed marsh in the Guadalquivir delta, contains a large stretch of undeveloped coastline, and protects one of the few mobile dune systems found on the Iberian peninsula. The marsh lies on the west Europe to west Africa migration route and is indispensable as a winter habitat for species such as the greylag goose (flocks of up to 70,000), teal (200,000), wigeon (100,000) and avocet (10,000). It is also a spring nesting area for Mediterranean and African birds including spoonbill. The Marismas (swamps on flat clay soil filled with muddy sediments) comprise almost half of the reserve and are used as a feeding area by almost 20,000 greater flamingo. During periods of high rainfall, this species also nested in the area. |
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TUNISIA |
12. Ichkeul
National Park |
12,600ha |
Lake Ichkeul and the marshland are a stopover point for up to 300,000-400,000 wintering Palaearctic waterfowl at one time, including geese, ducks, storks and pink flamingoes, which come to feed and nest here. Up to 600 of the threatened white-headed duck (K), 4% of the known world population, have been recorded. Mammals include the otter (V). The lake is one of the last remaining in a chain of large freshwater lakes which once extended across northern Africa. |
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UK |
13. St.
Kilda |
853ha |
This archipelago includes some of the highest cliffs in Europe which provide a refuge for colonies of rare and endangered bird species, especially puffins and gannets. The world's largest colony of gannet breeds here (60,428 pairs in 1994, some 25% of the North Atlantic population), as well as the largest and oldest British colony of fulmar (30,000 pairs) and about half of the British population of puffin. |
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AFROTROPICAL REALM |
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MALAWI |
14. Lake
Malawi National Park |
9,400ha |
Lake Malawi is estimated to be one or two million years old and its importance in the study of evolution is comparable to the finches of the Galapagos Islands. The protected area comprises the only lacustrine park in Africa, protecting hundreds of fish species, most of which are endemic. Lake Malawi contains the most fish species of any lake in the world, probably over 500 from ten families, perhaps half occurring in the park area. Endemism is high (thought to exceed 90%) and adaptive radiation and speciation within the lake is remarkable. The lake contains over 400 species of Cichlidae (30% of all known cichlid species), of which all but five are endemic to Lake Malawi and 28 other fish species endemic to the lake. The islands are important nesting areas for several thousand white-breasted cormorant. |
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MAURITANIA |
15. Banc
D'Arguin National Park |
1,200,000ha |
The park's area is half marine and half terrestrial. The park's vast expanses of mudflats provide a winter home for over two million migrant shorebirds from northern Europe, Siberia and Greenland. The region's mild climate and absence of human disturbance make the park one of the most important sites in the world for these species. The nesting bird population is also noted for its great numbers and diversity: between 25,000 and 40,000 pairs belonging to 15 species, making these the largest colonies of waterbirds in West Africa. Imraguen tribesmen still maintain their age-old life styles, based almost exclusively on harvesting the migratory fish populations using traditional sailing boats, and in unique symbiotic collaboration with wild dolphins. |
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SENEGAL |
16. Djoudj
National Bird Sanctuary |
16,000ha |
The park was mainly established for its importance an endemic bird area, supporting three million waterfowl, and is one of the main West African sanctuaries for Palaearctic migrants, including garganey, shoveler, pintail, ruff, and black-tailed godwit. It is one of the first fresh water sources they reach after crossing 200km of the Sahara. Thousands of flamingo can be found here. About 5,000 white pelican nest here regularly, as well as white-faced tree duck, fulvus tree duck, spur-winged goose, purple heron, night heron, various egrets, spoonbill, African darter, common cormorant, and white-breasted cormorant. African manatee (V) are also present. |
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SEYCHELLES |
17. Aldabra
Atoll |
35,000ha |
The atoll constitutes a refuge for the giant tortoise and flightless bird populations of the western Indian Ocean, as well a substantial marine turtle breeding population and large seabird colonies. Mangrove swamp grows around the edge of the lagoon and inshore waters support sea-grass meadows. Aldabra is the main breeding site in the Indian Ocean for red-tailed tropic bird, red-footed booby, greater frigatebird and lesser frigatebird. It is an endemic bird area. |
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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO |
18. Virunga
National Park |
790,000ha |
The park offers an incomparable diversity of habitats including lakes at various altitudes, marshy deltas, peat bogs and hot springs. The park includes part of Lake Edward (Idi Amin), part of the Semliki River valley and Lake Kivu. Over 20,000 hippopotamus are present, and large numbers of pelicans occur on the lower Rutshuru. |
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INDOMALAYAN REALM |
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INDIA |
19. Kaziranga
National Park |
42,996ha |
Kaziranga lies in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra River. The riverine habitat consists primarily of tall, dense grasslands interspersed with open forests, interconnecting streams and numerous small lakes or 'bheels'. Up to 75% of the area is submerged annually by the flood waters of the Brahmaputra. Threatened species include Ganges dolphin (EN) and water buffalo (EN). The numerous water bodies are rich reservoirs of food and thousands of migratory birds, representing over 100 species, visit the park seasonally from as far afield as Siberia. |
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INDIA |
20. Keoladeo
National Park |
2,873ha |
The area consists of a flat patchwork of marshes in the Gangetic plain, artificially created in the 1850s and maintained ever since by a system of canals, sluices and dykes. An estimated 65 million fish-fry are carried into the park's water impoundments by river flooding every year during the monsoon season, which provide the food base for large numbers of wading and fish-eating birds. The park is an unrivalled breeding site for herons, storks and cormorants and an important wintering ground for large numbers of migrant ducks. The park was the last known wintering ground in India of the western population of Siberian crane (V). Other threatened avifauna species occur, including Dalmatian pelican (V), spot-billed pelican (I), greater adjutant (E), lesser adjutant (V), marbled teal (V), Baikal teal (V), Baer's pochard (V) and Pallas' sea-eagle (R). Threatened mammals include the fishing cat (K) and smooth-coated otter (VU). |
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INDIA |
21. Manas
National Park |
50,000ha |
This park's wetlands are of international importance. The Manas River flows through the western portion of the park, where it splits into three separate rivers, and joins the Brahmaputra 64km further south. These and other rivers running through the tiger reserve carry an enormous amount of silt and rock debris from the foothills (from heavy rainfall), along with fragile debris from the rock and steep gradients of the catchments. Threatened mammals include the fishing cat (K), only pure strain of this species of water buffalo (V) in India, swamp deer (V) and Ganges dolphin (E). Rare waterfowl species include spot-billed pelican (I), lesser adjutant (V) and greater adjutant (E). Reptiles include gharial (E) (possibly introduced from neighbouring Bhutan or as a result of a captive breeding programme) and Assam roofed turtle (K). |
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INDIA |
22. Sundarbans
National Park |
133,010ha |
Sundarbans
contains the world's largest region of mangrove forests, with 36 true
mangrove, 28 associated and seven obligatory mangrove species representing
29 families and 49 genera. The Sundarbans, apart from being the only mangrove
forest in the world inhabited by the tiger, contains a rich and unique
biota, with a large number of threatened species including numerous fishing
cat (K). Threatened avifauna includes the greater adjutant (E) and Asian
dowitcher (R), a rare winter migrant, and birds of prey include osprey,
Pallas's sea-eagle (R), white-bellied sea-eagle and grey-headed fishing
eagle. Aquatic mammals that frequent the tidal waters include the Ganges
dolphin, Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphin (K), Irrawaddy dolphin (K) and
finless porpoise (K). The Sundarbans provide important habitat for a variety
of reptiles including river |
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INDONESIA |
23. Komodo
National Park |
219,322ha |
Seas around these islands reportedly are the most productive in the world due to upwelling and a high degree of oxygenation from strong tidal currents flowing through the Sape Straits. Anthropogenic disturbance has left only isolated patches of the rich reef ecosystem. Mangroves occur in sheltered bays and extensive seagrass beds. The rich marine environment provides the basis for the local fishing industry. Marine mammals include blue whale (E) and sperm whale, dugong (V) and 10 species of dolphin. Marine reptiles include five species of turtle. |
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INDONESIA |
24. Ujung
Kulon National Park |
123,051ha |
The coastal coral reef environment ranks among the richest in Indonesia. Threatened species include fishing cat (K), false gharial (E), estuarine crocodile (V), and green turtle (E), which nests within the park. Over 270 species of avifauna have been recorded, including osprey, Brahminy kite, white-bellied sea eagle, ruddy kingfisher, frigate bird and three species of Ciconiidae (storks). There are also numerous amphibian species. |
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PHILIPPINES |
25. Tubbataha
Reef Marine Park |
33,200ha |
Tubbataha is the most biologically diverse coral reef system in the Philippines comprising a near pristine coral reef with a 100m perpendicular wall, an almost undisturbed reef crest and reef edge, two coral islands, and extensive lagoons with seagrass and coral beds. Marine turtles nest on beaches, including hawksbill turtle (E) and green turtle (E). Despite being of importance for the sustenance of fisheries, a high diversity of fish remain including four species of threatened Tridacnid calms. Forty six bird species have been recorded, including a colony of brown boobies, red-footed boobies, common noddy, sooty tern and crested tern. |
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OCEANIAN REALM |
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UK |
26. Henderson
Island |
3,700ha |
Henderson remains in an undisturbed state, largely as a result of its remoteness, and its inhospitable nature. There is a fringing reef at least 200m wide to the north, north-west and north-east sides of the island, backed by a wide beach. Green turtle (E) occasionally nests on the island. Nine seabird species are thought to breed there; Murphy's petrel, phoenix petrel, herald petrel, Kermadec petrel, shearwater, masked booby, red-tailed tropicbird, brown noddy, blue-grey noddy, and fairy tern. |
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AUSTRALIAN REALM |
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AUSTRALIA |
27. Fraser
Island |
166,283ha |
Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. Notable hydrological features are the sandmass aquifers and the dune lakes. Water may be stored for up to 100 years. Groundwater is stored in massive reserves within the sandmass, of which almost 6 million of the 10 - 20 million total megalitres is above sea level. A further 400,000 megalitres may be retained in the perched aquifers. There exists an exceptional diversity and number of dune lakes whose range of ages shows evidence of dynamic stages of development. Some of the perched lakes are estimated to be up to 300,000 years old. The boundary of the region is set as 500m below high water mark, in order to include important areas of beaches, wetlands and mangroves, and part of the extensive seagrass beds in the Great Sandy Strait, which extend to more than 12,500ha. There are breeding colonies of loggerhead turtle (V) and green turtle (E). The island has nationally important populations of fish: honey blue-eye (V) and Oxleyan pygmy perch (V). |
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AUSTRALIA |
28. Great
Barrier Reef |
34,870,000ha |
This site may provide the most spectacular marine scenery in the world with the world's most extensive stretch of coral reef, comprising 3,400 individual reefs, including 760 fringing reefs, ranging in size from under 1ha to over 10,000ha. About 5% of the total area is protected in IUCN category I and II reserves. There are approx. 300 coral cays (213 unvegetated, 43 vegetated and 44 low wooded islands) as well as 618 continental islands, once part of the mainland. Threatened species include dugong (V), humpback whale (E), Irrawaddy dolphin (K), and the reef contains significant nesting grounds for the green turtle (E) and loggerhead (V). |
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AUSTRALIA |
29. Kakadu
National Park |
1,980,400ha |
The park covers almost the entire catchment of a major tropical monsoonal river system. Kakadu contains approximately 473 sq. km of coastal, intertidal and estuarine areas and two islands. The Alligator Rivers region, which encompasses the park, is considered to be the most floristically diverse area of monsoonal northern Australia. Mangroves are distributed extensively along the tidal reaches of all major coastal river systems in the park. The associated coastal riverine plains are recent landforms, still actively forming in the park. Paperbark swamp covers extensive areas of the seasonally inundated freshwater flood plains. The vegetation of these plains changes more or less continuously throughout the wet-dry cycle, ranging from open water communities associated with permanent water bodies to transient communities of herbs, grasses and sedges associated with seasonally inundated, cracking clay soils that dry out completely in the dry season. Aquatic escarpment habitats are important as dry season refuges for freshwater fish, including several species with restricted distributions. Animals listed as globally threatened include dugong (V), estuarine crocodile (V), loggerhead turtle (V), green turtle (E) and hawksbill turtle (E). |
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AUSTRALIA |
30. Lord
Howe Island Group |
1,176ha |
The Lord Howe Group has large populations of breeding seabirds: it is now the only known breeding ground for providence petrel; possibly half the world's population of fleshy-footed shearwater breeds on Lord Howe; and red-tailed tropic bird breeds here in greater concentrations than probably anywhere else in the world. The waters around Lord Howe Island provide an unusual mixture of temperate and tropical organisms, with 477 fish species having been recorded in 107 families. |
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AUSTRALIA |
31. Shark
Bay |
2,197,300ha |
Shark Bay is a complete marine ecosystem containing numerous important features, including the Wooramel seagrass bank, the Faure sill, living fossil stromatolites, and ecosystems dominated by benthic microbial communities which flourish in the hypersaline embayments. Other features include a diversity of endemic and threatened plant and animal species and areas of great natural beauty. Modern examples of Proterozoic stromatolites include coccoid cyanobacterium which are thought to be descendants of a 1,900 million year old form, thus representing one of the longest continuing biological lineages known in the world. Shark Bay contains the largest reported seagrass meadows in the world (4,000 sq. km), supporting approximately 12.5% of the world population of dugong (V). Humpback whale (V) and southern right whales use the bay as a migratory staging post. Mangroves occur in small, relatively isolated areas. |
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ANTARCTIC REALM |
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NEW ZEALAND |
32. Te Wahipounamu
- South West New Zealand |
2,600,000ha |
Te Wahipoinaumu offers a landscape shaped by successive glaciations into fjords, rocky coasts, towering cliffs, lakes and waterfalls. The South-West contains the most extensive and least modified natural freshwater wetlands in New Zealand, including high fertility swamps and low fertility peat bogs, which are a particular feature of the South Westland coastal plain. Excluding the outlying Bounty Islands, the largest breeding congregations of New Zealand fur seal are found along the South-West coast. Although virtually annihilated last century, the fur seal population has recovered steadily, and now numbers in excess of 50,000 individuals. The South-West area is home to the endemic Victoria penguin, with some 1,000 to 2,000 pairs breeding annually. |
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UK |
33. Gough
Island Wildlife Reserve |
6,500ha |
Gough Island is the least disturbed major cool-temperate island ecosystem in the South Atlantic Ocean, and has one of the most important seabird colonies in the world. The island is scenically beautiful and captivating with spectacular seacliffs around much of the coastline. Above 600m, peat bogs dominated by Sphagnum mosses are widespread, reaching depths of 5m. About 48% of the world's population of northern rockhopper penguin breed at Gough, and it contains a major breeding site of the great shearwater with up to three million pairs. Atlantic petrel is endemic to Gough and the Tristan group of islands, which are also the main southern ocean breeding sites of little shearwater, with several million breeding pairs. Wandering albatross is virtually restricted to Gough, with up to 2,000 breeding pairs on the island. The only survivors of southern giant petrel also breed on Gough, with an estimated 100-150 pairs. Endangered marine mammals found within the reserve include the southern right whale (E) and dusky dolphin (K). |
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NEOTROPICAL REALM |
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BELIZE |
34. Belize
Barrier-Reef Reserve System |
96,300ha |
The World Heritage site consists of 7 marine reserves which comprise 12% of the total area of the Belize Barrier Reef. This is the world's second largest barrier reef system and the largest reef complex in the Atlantic-Caribbean area. The reef ecosystem is of remarkable biological diversity and beauty. The approximately 450 sand and mangrove cays confined within the barrier and atolls range in size from small, ephemeral sand spits to larger, permanent islands. The Belize Barrier Reed is an area of great scientific value and provides habitat for many species of conservation concern. The area harbours probably the largest population of West Indian manatee (V) in the world (300-700 individuals). Three species of sea turtles nest in Belize: loggerhead (E), green (E), and hawksbill (E). The American crocodile (V) nests at several sites among the offshore cays and atolls. The site also contains major seabird and water bird colonies include those of red-footed booby (3,000-4,000 individuals), brown booby and common noddy. |
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ECUADOR |
35. Galapagos
National Park |
766,514ha |
These volcanic islands have been called a unique "living museum and showcase of evolution." Endemic taxa include 4 species of mockingbird and 13 species of Darwin's finches, including the mangrove finch (I) and Galapagos marine iguana (V). Green turtle (E) and hawksbill turtle (E) which are common in surrounding waters, with the former nesting on sandy beaches. Some 298 fish species in 88 families have been recorded; mostly typical tropical eastern Pacific taxa, but with 23% endemism amongst shorefish. Galapagos has been rated as an urgent area for endemic bird protection with 75% of landbirds being endemic. There are extensive fringing reefs, and mangroves in sheltered bays. A decision on including the surrounding Galapagos Marine Reserve as part of the World Heritage site is under consideration. |
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HONDURAS |
36. Río
Platano Biosphere Reserve |
500,000ha |
This reserve protects nearly the entire watershed of the 100km long Platano River, as well as major portions of the Paulaya, Guampu and Sicre Rivers. The rugged mountainous headwaters region, encompassing 75% of the reserve, is flanked by the Platano River and rises to Punta Piedra (1,326m). The river basin drains an area of some 130,000ha and meanders considerably in the lowland region, marooning several ox-bow lakes. Threatened species include manatee (V), American crocodile (V), green turtle (E), loggerhead turtle (V), and leatherback turtle (E). |
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MEXICO |
37. Sian
Ka'an Biosphere Reserve |
528,000ha |
Sian Ka'an lies in the Yucatan Peninsula on a partially emerged coastal limestone plain which forms part of the extensive barrier reef system along the eastern coast of Central America. There are dwarfed mangroves, fringing mangroves, freshwater and saltwater marshes and a large series of sink holes (cenotes). Each year during the dry season, about 20% of the terrestrial part of the reserve remains flooded, increasing to about 75% by the end of the rainy season. The area is habitat for endemic bird species. |
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PANAMA /COLOMBIA |
38. Darien
and Los Katios National Parks |
669,000ha |
The Atrato River floodplain makes up 47% of Los Katios and is the fastest river in the world, emptying 4900 cubic metres of water every second into the Caribbean. Wetland forest along the Chucunaque and Tuira rivers is covered by pure stands of "cativo" (I), which reach 50m and give its name to 'catival' a formation found only in Colombia, south Central America and Jamaica. Five species of mangroves exist along the Pacific coast. The park also protects outstanding scenery, namely the Tendal (25m) and Tilupo (100m) waterfalls and the Ciénagas de Tumaradó swamp. In Darien, habitats include sandy beaches, rocky coasts, mangroves and swamps. Pacific tides (from 3.8m to 6.1m) influence the Chucunaque and Tuira rivers for many kilometres inland and is home to the Capybara, Cayman crocodile and American crocodile (V). The area is one of the most concentrated endemic bird areas in the world for restricted large species. |
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PERU |
39. Manu
National Park |
1,532,806ha |
The entire area is situated within the Amazon River basin and protects almost the entire watershed of the River Manu and most of the tributaries of the River Alto Madre de Dios. Alluvial plains are found along the rivers where sediments may be deposited on a seasonal basis. The adjacent reserved zone mainly comprises the flood plains of the lower Manu river, down to its confluence with the Rio Alto Madre de Dios, and over long periods of time the river has wandered over the plain leaving a number of ox-bow lakes. It is an endemic bird area. Species occurring in the park which are known to be globally threatened include giant otter (V), spectacled caiman (V), and black caiman (E). |
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