The Chamicero del Perijá Bird Reserve was created on January 28, 2014, in order to preserve one of the most fragile and important sites of Colombia, the Serranía del Perijá, habitat for a large number of animal species
and unique plants.
Location and Area:
The Reserve is located in the villages of El Cinco and Altos de Perijá, in the municipality of Manaure, department of Cesar, approximately 36 miles from the city of Valledupar. The Reserve has an area of approximately 1850ac. of high andean forests, subparamo and paramo.
Biological importance:
The area has a high number of endemic species of fauna and flora which are threatened with extinction; also conserved forests benefit from the species of birds endemic to the upper and middle sections of the Perijá: Perijá metaltail (Metallura iracunda), The Perija Thistletail (Asthenes perijana), Perijá brush finch (Arremon perijanus) Black-fronted Nunbird Monasa (Atlapetes nigrifrons) and Tapaculo Perijá (Scytalopus sp) a new species recently discovered.
Hydrography
The western sector of the reserve is located on the river basin Manaure which is vital to the town of Manaure, Cesar; many water bodies are third and fourth grade Manaure River tributaries and a few others are vital for aqueducts in the sector of Cinco and El Venado.
Climate:
The area has an average temperature of 59°F and a distribution of rains bimodal climate with four seasons; the total annual rainfall is 1247 mm and close to the multi-year monthly average is 104 mm; periods of increased rainfall occur between April and June and September to November, October is the month with the highest rainfall (163 mm). Dry periods are December to March and June to August, January is the driest month (32 mm)
Ecosystem:
The reserve protects subtropical forests (mist) of the Andean and
sub-Andean zones, subpáramos (2600-2900 m) and páramos (3000-3500 m).
The sub-Andean forests are mainly between 1700-2300 m elevation and
Andean about 2,300 m.
Vegetation:
The reserve is made up of forests in different successional stages in the High Andean and sub-Andean bands. In the high Andean (2800-3000 m) band in sites with higher degree of conservation forests dominated by high Hesperomeles ferruginea (association Ilici sessiliflorae – Hesperomeletum ferruginae) have become established with a lower tree layer elements with heights between 12 and 25 m) dominate coverage and values Importance Values Index (IVI) for Prumnopytis montana, Clusia multiflora, Ternstroemia meridionalis, Podocarpus oleifolius,
Weinmannia pinnata and Hesperomeles ferruginea.
In areas where human intervention is well advanced, scrubby forests dominated by Weinmannia pinnata, Podocarpus oleifolius andBrunellia integrifolia, are stunted elements. In the open páramo vegetation in the northern part of the mountains, the Páramo El Avión (between 3100 and 3400 m) scrub vegetation dominated by páramo bambooand a species of chite are established. Associations including the alliance are: Espeletio perijaensis-Chusqueetum tesse- llatae (chuscal-frailejonal); Arcytophyllo nitidae-Calamagrostietum Intermediae (scrub-grassland) and Geranio holosericeae – Plantaginetum sericeae (meadows). COLOMBIA DIVERSIDAD BIÓTICA V La alta montaña de la Serranía de Perijá. J.O. RANGEL-CH. 2007
Biodiversity:
The Reserve has some important values at the level of both faunal and floral biodiversity. According to studies by the National University in the area 177 vascular plant species have been recorded representing 46% of all species in the mountains of Perijá. In terms of wildlife 4 species of amphibians, 130 species of birds, 23 species of mammals (flying and non-flying) and 54 species of butterflies have been recorded.
Important species for conservation:
Among the species of flora and fauna of importance for its threatened
status and endemism found 5 species of birds: the Perijá metaltail (Metallura iracunda), The Perijá Thistletail (Asthenes Perijana), Perijá Brush-finch (Atlapetes nigrifrons) and Tapaculo Perijá (Scytalopus sp) a recently discovered new species. And 32 species of flora of interest to the area, 19 endemic and near-endemic restricted to the Colombian side and 13 that are shared with Venezuela were recorded.
Conservation:
Eradication of exotic species, ecological restoration.
Research:
Monitoring of threatened and endemic species.
Facilities:
There is accommodation for 10 people, in modern and comfortable cabins with electricity, running water and cell phone signal.s.
Tourist attractions:
Observation of scenic beauty; the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the blonde savannah and imposing hill scenery is displayed; you can hike and do bird watching.
General recommendations:
* Respect the natural values of the reserve, plants and animals.
* The collection of biological materials is not allowed.
* Follow directions the reserve staff and travel on established trails.
* Within the reserve camping is not allowed.
* Must bring coats for the cold, Pantanal and waterproof boots.
Reserve your visit NOW:
Email: visit@conservation.co or make an online reservation immediately: www.conservation.co
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