BirdLife IBA Factsheet

Country/Territory

Guatemala

Administrative region(s)

Alta Verapaz

Central coordinates

15^o 26' North 89^o 59' West Map

Area

163393 ha

Altitude

50 - 2600m

Criteria

A1, A2, A3

Site description Yalijux is located in the Atlantic slope mountain range of Guatemala. Bordered by the rivers Cahabon and Polochic, this IBA includes forest fragments extending from cloud forest at 2600 m elevation to rainforest at 50 m.

Birds Yalijux is an important site for birds restricted to the North Central American Highlands (16 species recorded) and biome-restricted species of the Madrean Highlands (39 species). The site supports populations of three globally threatened species, the resident Highland Guan (Penelopina nigra) and Pink-headed Warbler (Ergaticus versicolor), and Golden-cheeked Warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) during migration. Ornithological research has been focused on the high-elevation areas of this IBA (Eisermann 1999, 2001, 2005, Renner 2003), Renner et. al 2006, Eisermann et al. 2006).

Protection status Currently only 1.9% of this IBA are legally protected (CONAP 2007), including four Private Nature Reserves, one National Park and a Natural Monument. Several private landowners receive forest easement and are committed to a 5-years forest conservation.

Conservation issues 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 in uncertain, because the Guatemalan human population is growing rapidly.

Recommended Citation BirdLife International (2009) Important Bird Area factsheet: Yalijux, Guatemala. Downloaded from the Data Zone at http://www.birdlife.org on 2/9/2010