Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) – 2009-2012 version Available for download from http://www.ramsar.org/ris/key_ris_index.htm. Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 (1990), as amended by Resolution VIII.13 of the 8th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) and Resolutions IX.1 Annex B, IX.6, IX.21 and IX. 22 of the 9th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2005). Notes for compilers: 1. The RIS should be completed in accordance with the attached Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. Compilers are strongly advised to read this guidance before filling in the RIS. 2. Further information and guidance in support of Ramsar site designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 14, 3rd edition). A 4th edition of the Handbook is in preparation and will be available in 2009. 3. Once completed, the RIS (and accompanying map(s)) should be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat. Compilers should provide an electronic (MS Word) copy of the RIS and, where possible, digital copies of all maps. 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY. DD MM YY Beatriz de Aquino Ribeiro - Bióloga - Analista Ambiental / [email protected], (95) Designation date Site Reference Number 99136-0940. Antonio Lisboa - Geógrafo - MSc. Biogeografia - Analista Ambiental / [email protected], (95) 99137-1192. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade - ICMBio Rua Alfredo Cruz, 283, Centro, Boa Vista -RR. CEP: 69.301-140 2. Date this sheet was completed/updated: 28 August of 2016 3. Country: Brazil 4. Name of the Ramsar site: The precise name of the designated site in one of the three official languages (English, French or Spanish) of the Convention. Alternative names, including in local language(s), should be given in parentheses after the precise name. Parque Nacional do Viruá (Viruá National Park) 5. Designation of new Ramsar site or update of existing site: This RIS is for (tick one box only): a) Designation of a new Ramsar site ; or b) Updated information on an existing Ramsar site 6. For RIS updates only, changes to the site since its designation or earlier update: 7. Map of site: Refer to Annex III of the Explanatory Note and Guidelines, for detailed guidance on provision of suitable maps, including digital maps. a) A map of the site, with clearly delineated boundaries, is included as: i) a hard copy (required for inclusion of site in the Ramsar List): ; ii) an electronic format (e.g. a JPEG or ArcView image) ; iii) a GIS file providing geo-referenced site boundary vectors and attribute tables . b) Describe briefly the type of boundary delineation applied: e.g. the boundary is the same as an existing protected area (nature reserve, national park, etc.), or follows a catchment boundary, or follows a geopolitical boundary such as a local government jurisdiction, follows physical boundaries such as roads, follows the shoreline of a waterbody, etc. The Viruá National Park is endowed with legally established limits based on geographical references, represented west by the Branco River, northeast the route BR-174, east by the design of the “Estrada Perdida” (road) and south by the Anauá river (Federal Decree of 29.04.1998). 8. Geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude, in degrees and minutes): Provide the coordinates of the approximate centre of the site and/or the limits of the site. If the site is composed of more than one separate area, provide coordinates for each of these areas. 61º09’38.717” W and 01º19’54.705” N 9. General location: Include in which part of the country and which large administrative region(s) the site lies and the location of the nearest large town. The Viruá National Park is located in the south-central region of the State of Roraima, in the Municipality of Caracaraí. The access is via the federal highway BR-174, 200 km far from the capital Boa Vista, or 600 km from Manaus. The State of Roraima and the City of Caracaraí have 450,000 and 18,000 inhabitants, respectively (IBGE Census 2010). Located on the northern edge of the Northern “Pantanal”, the Viruá NP provides facilities for research and ecotourism activities on these unique wetland ecosystems in the Brazilian Amazon. 10. Elevation: (in metres: average and/or maximum & minimum) The landscape of Viruá National Park is predominantly flat and low, with the prevalence of heights between 40 and 55 m above sea level (Rossetti et al., 2012). The maximum altitude is 360 m, recorded at the top of Viruá hill (Schaefer et al., 2009, ICMBio 2014). 11. Area: (in hectares) The area of the Viruá National Park is 216,427 ha. 12. General overview of the site: Provide a short paragraph giving a summary description of the principal ecological characteristics and importance of the wetland. The Viruá National Park is a protected area located in a megadiverse ecological region of “Campinaranas”, in the lower Branco River/Medium Negro River, south-central of the State of Roraima. It covers a mosaic of forested and non-forested humid ecosystems, representative of a unique geo-ecological system in the Amazon, endowed with physical attributes (alluvial megafans, spodosols) and with a hydrological regime typical of wetlands (Zani et al, 2012; Schaefer et al ., 2009). Inventories of the biodiversity and ecological studies conducted in the Viruá National Park demonstrate exceptional levels of biodiversity (especially of fish and birds), high rates of fishing productivity and the occurrence of populations of vulnerable or endangered species. The Viruá, since 2009, has the largest number of freshwater fish species ever recorded in a Brazilian protected area (500 species, Ferreira et al, 2009; ICMBio, 2014) and supports exceptional levels of fishing productivity in the State (Lemos, 2009). It has one of the highest diversity of birds recorded in protected areas in Brazil (> 530 species), with 28 endemic species considered in the designation of the Important Bird Area RR04 - Fields and wetlands of the Branco River, of which the Viruá is part of. It maintains relevant habitats for ten species of mammals and six species of turtles under various levels of threat according to IUCN criteria (ICMBio, 2014). Achieving five criteria for the identification of wetlands of international importance, the designation of Viruá NP as a Ramsar site broadens significantly Brazil's contribution towards the conservation of global biological diversity and sustainable use of wetlands in the Brazilian Amazon. 13. Ramsar Criteria: Tick the box under each Criterion applied to the designation of the Ramsar site. See Annex II of the Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for the Criteria and guidelines for their application (adopted by Resolution VII.11). All Criteria which apply should be ticked. 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 14. Justification for the application of each Criterion listed in 13 above: Provide justification for each Criterion in turn, clearly identifying to which Criterion the justification applies (see Annex II for guidance on acceptable forms of justification). Criterion 1: The Viruá National Park covers a mosaic of ecosystems, including Ombrophilous forest, Campinaranas, and pioneer formations representative of the Northern Pantanal, humid area with unique geological and biogeographical characteristics in the Brazilian Amazon, and inserted in the ecological region of the Campinaranas. It is situated in the Lower Branco River/Medium Negro River, with an area equivalent to 8,686,974 ha. The Northern Pantanal had its geographical boundaries, hydrological dynamics and physical aspects recently characterized by surveys conducted in the Viruá N P, wich became a reference site for the physical environment and the biodiversity knowledge of this system (Rossetti et al, 2012; Zani et al, 2012; Schaefer et al, 2009; ICMBio, 2014). The Northern Pantanal plays important roles on flood control, sediments depositional processes and biogeochemical cicles of the Lower Branco River and Demini River drainage systems. Criterion 2: The Viruá National Park shelters populations of ten species of mammals, six species of turtles and five species of birds under various levels of threat, according to IUCN criteria (ICMBio, 2014). Among the mammals, the Guiana Spider Monkey Ateles paniscus, the Giant Anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla, the Giant Armadillo Priodontes maximus, the Lowland Tapir Tapirus terrestris, the White-lipped Peccary Tayassu pecari and the South American Manatee Trichechus inunguis are all categorized as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, and the latter is also listed in Appendix I of CITES and appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), as well as the Pink River Dolphin Inia geoffrensis. The Giant Otter Pteronura brasiliensis, categorized as Endangered by the IUCN Red List and listed in Appendix I of CITES, also occurs in the site. Other three species, the Margay Leopardus wiedii, the Jaguar Panthera onca and the Bush Dog Speothos venaticus are categorized as near threatened in the IUCN Red List and are all listed in Appendix I of CITES. Threatened birds species include three riverine species, and two large Neotropical eagles. The endemic Branco River Antbird Cercomacra carbonaria is categorized as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. The Orinoco Goose Neochen jubata and the Klages's Antwren Myrmotherula klagesi are listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List. The Harpy Eagle Harpia harpyja and the Crested Eagle Morphnus guianensis are categorized as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List, and are listed respectively in the Appendix I and II of CITES. Five testudines species recorded in Viruá NP are categorized as Vunerable by the IUCN Red List: the Yellow-footed Tortoise Chelonoidis denticulate, the Big-headed Amazon River Turtle Peltocephalus dumerilianus, the Red-headed Amazon River Turtle Podocnemis erythrocephala, the Six-tubercled Amazon River Turtle Podocnemis sextuberculata and the Yellow-spotted River Turtle Podocnemis unifilis.