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close| Location | Guatemala, Alta Verapaz |
| Central coordinates | 90o 31.44' West 15o 28.56' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A2, A3 |
| Area | 71,429 ha |
| Altitude | 300 - 2,200m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2007 |
Summary Sacranix is an important site for range-restricted birds of the North Central American Highlands, including the threatened Highland Guan. The site still provides continuous forest cover from 2200 m to 400 m elevation. Although less than 1% of the IBA is legally protected, larger tracts of the forest are considered protected at least on the mid term (10 years) by providing alternative income and forest easements to local farmers. About the half of the IBA is used for growing corn, coffee, and cardamom.
Ornithological information More than 320 bird species have been recorded recently in Sacranix (Eisermann 2000, 2001), including a population of the globally threatened Highland Guan (Penelopina nigra) (Eisermann 2005). The site supports populations of 11 range-restricted species of the North Central American Highlands, 28 biome-restricted species of the Madrean Highlands, and 15 species restricted to the Gulf Caribbean Slope.
Site description Sacranix is located in the Atlantic slope mountain range of Guatemala. Bordered by the rivers Chixoy, Cahabon, and Sachichaj, this IBA includes large fragments of forest extending from cloud forest at 2200 m elevation to rainforest at 300 m.
Populations of IBA trigger species
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cataljí o Sacataljí | Private Nature Reserve | 180 | protected area contained by site | 0 | |
| Las Victorias | National Park | 82 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
Local conservation groups The local conservation group below is working to support conservation at this IBA.
| Name | Year formed |
|---|---|
| PROEVAL RAXMU | 2001 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Abandoned & fallow farmland, disturbed ground; Other urban & industrial areas; Perennial crops, orchards & groves | 29% |
| Forest | Montane broadleaf evergreen; Pine; Tropical lowland evergreen | 45% |
| Shrubland | Second-growth & disturbed scrub | 25% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers | 1% |
Land ownership The land is privately and communal owned.
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 54% |
| fisheries/aquaculture | minor |
| forestry | minor |
| hunting | major |
| nature conservation and research | 50% |
| tourism/recreation | minor |
| water management | minor |
Management considerations Slash-and-burn agriculture is common in the area, threatening the forest by fires and conversion to agricultural land. Although pressure on natural habitat has been lowered on the short term by providing forest easements and other alternative income among local farmers (agriculture, research, tourism), long-term protection is uncertain, because the Guatemalan human population is growing rapidly.
Protection status Less than 1% of this IBA are legally protected (CONAP 2007). Several private landowners receive forest easement and are committed to a 5-years forest conservation.
Conservation response The main forest in the Sacranix mountain is being protected by providing forest easements and the establishment of alternative crops in Maya Q'eqchi' villages (fruit trees, vanilla). Fruit tree plantations are established as fire protection belt around the primary forest. Local tourism programs are developed by several communities, which also provide alternative income. Bird populations are monitored since 2001 by PROEVAL RAXMU Bird Monitoring Program.
Acknowledgements PROEVAL RAXMU Bird Monitoring Program provided unpublished ornithological data. Input of unpublished data and suggestions for the delimitation of the IBA was provided during a workshop in Cobán, in August 2006, by representatives of Consejo Nacional de Areas Protegidas (CONAP) - Las Verapaces, Asociación de Proyectos Evaluados Raxmu (PROEVAL RAXMU), Peace Corps, Cooperativa Sanimtaca, Cooperativa Samac, and Comité Central Menotita. This first assessment of IBAs in Guatemala was conducted by Sociedad Guatemalteca de Ornitología and BirdLife International in the Americas.
References
CONAP. 2007. Lista de áreas protegidas inscritas en el SIGAP. Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (CONAP), Guatemala. (Database accessed in June 2007)
Eisermann, K. 2000. Evaluación rápida de la diversidad de aves en la Sierra Pampacché, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Unpublished report to BIDAS/Proyecto Eco-Quetzal, Cobán.
Eisermann, K. 2001. Reporte de avance: investigaciones de la avifauna de las regiones Ik'bolay, Guaxac y Sacranix, Alta Verapaz. Unpublished report to BIDAS/Proyecto Eco-Quetzal, Cobán.
Eisermann, K. 2005. Noteworthy bird observations in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 125: 3-11.
MAGA. 2006. Mapa de cobertura vegetal y uso de la tierra a escala 1:50,000 de la República de Guatemala, Año 2003 (Incluye 5 cultivos perennes actualizados al año 2005). Memoria técnica y descripción de resultados. Ministerio de Agricultura Ganadería y Alimentación –MAGA– / Unidad de Planificación Geográfica y Gestión de Riesgo –UPGGR–, Guatemala Ciudad, Guatemala.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Sacranix. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013
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