Ecuador’s La Tembladera rich in endemic species
The Ministerio del Ambiente of Ecuador has named that Party's 14th Wetland of International Importance, a permanent lagoon and surrounding inundated areas located in the Tumbesian Endemic Bird Area in El Oro province near the Pacific coast. As summarized by Ramsar's Sofia Méndez from data provided by the government, La Tembladera (1,471 hectares, 03°30'14"S 079°59'46"W) sustains at least 24 endemic bird species such as the Ecuadorian ground-dove (Columbina buckleyi) and the Pacific Parrotlet (Forpus coelestis), as well as IUCN Red-Listed Endangered and Vulnerable species such as the Grey-Cheeked parakeet (Brotogeris pyrrhoptera) and the Rufous-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis erythroptera). The lagoon provides water to irrigation systems for agriculture and livestock in the surrounding area, and supports small-scale fishing. The threats to the site include pollution and habitat destruction by the expansion of agricultural and livestock activities operating within the wetland, which will be addressed through the implementation of the management plan.
