The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Annotated Ramsar List: El Salvador

The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance

EL SALVADOR

The Convention on Wetlands came into force for El Salvador on 22 May 1999. El Salvador presently has 3 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 125,769 hectares.

site; date of designation; region, province, state; surface area; coordinates
site; date de désignation; région, province, état; superficie; coordonnées
sitios; fecha de designación; región, provincia, estado; área; coordenadas

Area Natural Protegida Laguna del Jocotal. 22/01/99; San Miguel; 1571 ha; 13º15’N 088º16’W. Laguna del Jocotal is a permanent freshwater lake, up to 3m deep, to the north of the Río Grande de San Miguel, at the base of the San Miguel Volcano. The lake is eutrophic and most of the surface is covered with floating vegetation. There is a wildlife sanctuary within the site, created in 1978; in 1986, about 300 families lived around the lake, and most of the land in the area is privately owned. Ramsar site no. 970.Most recent RIS information: 1999.

Complejo Bahía de Jiquilisco. 31/10/05; Usulutan; 63,500 ha; 13°13'N 088°32'W. The Jiquilisco Bay Complex constitutes the largest extension of brackish water and saltwater forest in El Salvador, including numerous estuaries and canals, sand dunes and beaches, various isles of different sizes, a freshwater lagoon complex and seasonally saturated forests connected to the mangroves, of which at least 6 types are present. The site constitutes the habitat of the large majority of coastal waterbirds in the country and nesting site of species such as Rynchops níger, Sterna antillarum, Charadrius wilsonia and Haematopus palliatus. The surrounding beaches are also nesting sites for the green turtle (Chelonia agassizi), Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivaceae) and leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriaceae), all of them threatened due to the overexploitation of their eggs. The site performs a very important function in the prevention of natural catastrophes by stabilizing the soil and preventing erosion. The most important economic activities involve fishing, shellfish extraction, aquiculture, salt extraction, cattle ranching and coconut plantations. There is some tourism in the area. Ramsar site no. 1586. Photos. Most recent RIS information: 2005.

Embalse Cerrón Grande. 22/11/05; Chalatenango, San Salvador, Cuscatlán, Cabañas; 60,698 ha; 14° 03' N 89° 04' W. Artificial water reservoir that constitutes the largest freshwater body in the country. The reservoir provides relevant environmental products and services such as fisheries production and hydropower generation, water filtration and flood control. The site serves as a place of refuge, breeding and resting ground for several thousand waterbirds, both resident and migratory, and hosts the largest duck populations in the country. Apart from having the largest freshwater fish diversity in El Salvador, it hosts 12 of the 14 native fish species known in the country. Other threatened species in the site include paca (Agouti paca), cougar (Puma concolor), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and the Red Brocket Deer (Mazama americana). Water pollution and eutrophication, deforestation, erosion, and the presence of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) constitute the greatest threats to the wetland. Ramsar site no. 1592.Most recent RIS information: 2005.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 19 January 2000, updated 18 January 2006, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.