Rapid ecological evaluation of the Balsamar natural area in the municipalities of Cuisnahuat and San Julián, Sonsonate

Abstract

Currently, the El Balsamar Natural Area (in the process of declaration) does not have a management plan or a recent diagnosis that allows determining the current status of the biological communities of the area. For this reason, through a Rapid Ecological
Assessment (EER), the current status of amphibian and reptile species was analyzed; Birds; Mammals and vegetal strata. The results provided biological information of great importance, updated and that can be used as a technical-scientific input that gives
greater weight and biological support to the declaration process of a Natural Protected Area by MARN. The registration and collection of information in the field was done with specific methodologies for each taxon or biological group. A sampling effortwas carried out that included three field trips, during the months of September and October of this year. Each trip included two nights and three days for a total of 9 days of field work. 19 species and 18 families of amphibians and reptiles were identified, two reptiles and one amphibian in the Threat category; 56 species of birds within 26 families, which represented 10.10% of the species registered in the country, two species of birds in the Threat category and one Endangered. In addition, 14 species of land mammals and 8 species of bats, belonging to 12 families; 25 species of trees with a timber volume of 1138.67 m3, 28 shrubs and 87 herbaceous species.