The Central Region of Guatemala, a Forgotten Area in the Study and Conservation of the Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno)

Abstract

Despite the fact that the Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) is a species of cultural and ecological importance for Guatemalans, there are still gaps in its knowledge and conservation. The known distribution in Guatemala includes the region of Las Verapaces, the western volcanic chain, areas of the departments of Huehuetenango and Quiché, and the Biosphere Reserves of Sierra de las Minas and Trifinio-Fraternidad. Although historically its presence extended to the central region of the country, in the Fuego and Agua volcanoes, the lack of recent records has created uncertainty about its persistence in the remaining cloud forests of this area. For this reason, the region has remained forgotten in the study and conservation of the Resplendent Quetzal for more than 150 years. We reviewed the available information and consider that the situation of the Resplendent Quetzal in the central region of the country is little known, due to the lack of verified records in the departments of Chimaltenango, Sacatepéquez, Escuintla and Guatemala. However, recent sightings on the Agua volcano and in areas around the city of Antigua Guatemala confirm the presence of the Resplendent Quetzal in the central region. These findings highlight the importance of the area’s cloud forests as a key habitat. They also show the urgent need to further investigate the region and establish more effective protection measures for the species. The conservation of these ecosystems is not only crucial to ensure the survival of the Resplendent Quetzal, but also to protect biodiversity in general and the connectivity of forests. The biological importance of this region is threatened by habitat loss, changes in land use, deforestation, forest fires, and the effects of climate change.