Pagaibamba Protection Forest

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Pagaibamba Protection Forest

| alt_name =Bosque de Protección Pagaibamba

| iucn_category = VI

| photo =Chorrera2.jpg

| photo_width =

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption =Waterfall inside Pagaibamba Protection Forest

| map = Peru

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location in Peru

| map_width =

| relief = 1

| location = {{PER}}
Cajamarca

| nearest_city =

| coordinates = {{coords|||format=dms|region:PE|display=inline, title}}

| coords_ref =

| area = {{convert|8.0247|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}

| established = {{start date|1987|06|19}}

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body =[http://www.sernanp.gob.pe SERNANP]

| world_heritage_site =

| website = [http://www.sernanp.gob.pe/de-pagaibamba Bosque de Protección Pagaibamba]

}}

Pagaibamba Protection Forest is a protected natural area in the region of Cajamarca, Peru.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sernanp.gob.pe/de-pagaibamba|title=De Pagaibamba – Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado|website=www.sernanp.gob.pe|language=es-ES|access-date=2017-05-11}} The area was declared a protection forest in order to preserve the water supply of surrounding towns, preserve the water cycle of the area, protect road infrastructure and protection of soils by preventing erosion.{{Cite web|url=http://ficha.sigmincetur.mincetur.gob.pe/index.aspx?cod_Ficha=1952|title=BOSQUE DE PROTECCIÓN DE PAGAIBAMBA|publisher=MINCETUR|language=es|access-date=2017-05-11|archive-date=2017-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728213559/http://ficha.sigmincetur.mincetur.gob.pe/index.aspx?cod_Ficha=1952|url-status=dead}}

History

The Pagaibamba Protection Forest was established on June 19, 1987.

Geography

This protection forest is located in the district of Querocoto, Chota Province, Cajamarca. It covers an extension of {{Convert|2078.38|hectare|mi2}} and protects a mountainous area dissected by small creeks. Elevations in the area are between 2300 and 2800 m.{{Cite journal|last1=Weigend|first1=Maximilian|last2=Rodríguez|first2=Eric|last3=Arana|first3=César|date=2005|title=Los bosque relictos del noroeste de Perú y del suroreste de Ecuador|journal=Revista Peruana de Biología|volume=12|issue=2|pages=189|doi=10.15381/rpb.v12i2.2390 |doi-access=free}}

Climate

Mean annual temperatures have a maximum of 10,9 °C and a minimum of 6,5 °C. The annual average precipitation has a maximum of 1,722 mm and a minimum of 834 mm.

Ecology

= Flora =

According to the Holdridge life zones classification, the vegetation type is a wet tropical mountain forest. Among the plant species reported in the area are: saucecillo (Podocarpus sp.), roble amarillo (Ocotea sp.), lanche (Myrcianthes sp.), suro (Chusquea sp.), queñual (Polylepis sp.), aliso (Alnus acuminata), palm trees, tree ferns, etc.; growing in association with tall grasses.

= Fauna =

Mammals reported in the forest include: the spectacled bear, the puma, the white-tailed deer, the Andean fox, the montane guinea pig, the mountain tapir, the tapeti, the pacarana, etc.{{Cite journal|last1=Jiménez|first1=Carlos F.|last2=Quintana|first2=Heidi|last3=Pacheco|first3=Víctor|last4=Melton|first4=Derek|last5=Torrealva|first5=Javier|last6=Tello|first6=Guillermo|date=2010|title=Camera trap survey of medium and large mammals in a montane rainforest of northern Peru|url=http://www.scielo.org.pe/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1727-99332010000200008&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=en|journal=Revista Peruana de Biología|volume=17|issue=2|pages=191–196|doi=10.15381/rpb.v17i2.27 |issn=1727-9933}} The rodent Thomasomys pagaibambensis is only known from the forest.{{cite journal | last1 = Pacheco | first1 = Víctor Raul | last2 = Ruelas | first2 = Dennisse | date = 2023-06-21 | doi = 10.1206/0003-0090.461.1.1 | pages = 1–72 | title = Systematic revision of Thomasomys cinereus (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) from northern Peru and southern Ecuador, with descriptions of three new species | journal = Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History | volume = 461}}

Among the birds present in the area are: the razor-billed curassow, the Andean guan, the Andean condor, etc.

The frog Pristimantis chimu is reported in this area.{{Cite journal|last1=Venegas|first1=Pablo J.|last2=Duellman|first2=William E.|date=2012-03-28|title=Two syntopic new species of the Pristimantis orestes Group (Anura: Strabomantidae) from northwestern Peru|journal=Zootaxa|language=en|volume=3249|issue=1|pages=47–59|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3249.1.5|issn=1175-5334|quote=APPENDIX. Specimens examined. Pristimantis chimu: PERU: Cajamarca: Bosque de Protección de Pagaibamba, 3000 m}}{{dead link|date=February 2020}}

Activities

Nature watching, trekking and scientific research are the main activities in the area.

Environmental issues

Deforestation is threatening the forest's area of extension. In late 2016, Pagaibamba was one of several protected areas in northern Peru affected by human-caused wildfires.{{Cite news|url=https://news.mongabay.com/2017/01/out-of-control-wildfires-damage-protected-areas-in-northern-peru/|title='Out of control' wildfires damage protected areas in northern Peru|date=2017-01-17|work=Mongabay Environmental News|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://maaproject.org/2017/northern-fires-update/|title=MAAP #52: Update – Fires Degrade 11 Protected Areas in northern Peru|date=2017-01-11|work=MAAP|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2016/11/23/forest-fires-affecting-10-regions-4-natural-zones-in-peru/print|title=Forest fires affecting 10 regions, 4 natural zones in Peru|date=2016-11-23|work=Fox News Latino|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en-US}} These fires were caused by slash-and-burn agricultural practices that went out of control coupled with drought. The burning of forests to open land for crops is considered illegal in Peru.

References

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