National Biodiversity Conservation Priority - Setting Workshop

STATUS REPORT OF VERTEBRATES WORKING GROUP
by Mr. Neil Aldrin Mallari and Prof. Blas Tabaranza
The Philippines is considered as one of the hottest spots in the world in terms of biological
meltdown. In a global perspective the country ranked number six for the total number of
b'lreatened bird species but on top of the list if land area will be considered. Logging and
subsistence farming are the top conservation issues that cause habitat loss in the whole
world. These anthropogenic factors have led to massive loss of suitable habitats to bird
species that are considered dependent to different types of forest ecosystem.
In the Philippines habitat loss and hunting are the major conservation issues that needs
attention to deter massive species loss or dwindling of local population of birds. In 1995,
HaribowBirdlife International started the identification of Important Bird Areas (IBAs). There
are several criteria on the selection process of IBAs, namely: 1) number of bird species
dependent on that particular habitavarea 2) number of endemic 3) number of threatened
species 4) present status of the habitavarea. This project rias initiated to help wildlife
managers, policy makers and othkrs stake holders in identifying areas that need immediate
conservation action.
Currently, there are 200 IBA sites in the whole Philippine archipelago. However, only 171 of
these are considered well documented while the remaining, need further exploration to
determine their present status. Although the Philippine birds are considered the most well
documented vertebrate group, in terms of distributional information, there are still some
areas that need further survey. These IBAs are mainly confined on in the mountainous areas
in Sulu.
The IBAs in Mindanao are the following: PH081 - Mt. Kambinlio and Mt. Redondo; PH082 -
Siargao Island; PH083 - Mt. Hilong-hilong; PH084 - Mt. Diwata range; PH085 - Agusan
Marsh; PH086 - Bislig; PH 087 - Mt. Agtuuganon and Mt. Pasian; PH088 - Mt. Puting Bato-
Kampalili-Mayo complex; PH089 Tumadgo Peak; pH090 - Camiguin Island; pH091 - Mt.
Balatukan Range; PH092 - Mt. Kaluayan-Mt. Kinabalian complex; PH093 - Mt. Tago Range;
PH094 - Mt. Kitanglad; PH095 - Kalatungan Mountains; PH096 - Mt. Munai / Tambo; PH097
Lake Lanao; PH098 - Mt. Piagayungan; pH099 - Butig mountains; PHlOO - Mt. Sinaka;
PHlOl - Mt. Apo; PHlO2 - Coronadal, Uguasan Marsh; PH013 - Mt. Daguma; PHI04 - Mt.
Matutum; PH105 - Mt Busa-Kiamba; PH106 - Mt. Latian Complex; PHI07 - Mt. Malindang;
PH108 - IYt. Dapiak-Mt. Paraya; pH109 - Mt. Sugarloaf; PHllO - Mt. Timolan; PH 111-
Siocon, Mt. Lituban-Quipit Watershed; PHll2 - Pasonanca Watershed; PHI13 - Basilan
National Park; PHI14 - Mt. Dajo National Park; PHI15 - Tawi-tawi Island; PH116 - Simunul
and Manuk Manka Islands; PH117 - Sibutu and Tumindao Islands.
Most of the IBA's in Mindanao are currently experiencing different levels of habitat
disturbances, namely: logging, mining and subsistence farming. All of these practices have
unknown but predictable long-term effect on highly specialized bird species and their habitat.
Hunting is the greatest single threat in the short term to most bird species found on the
IBAs.
The current condition of the forest distribution of Negros Island is one good example of how
human population has influenced a given landscape. Human populations increase the
demand on wood products and other forest materials and cause the massive loss of suitable
habitat to many wildlife species. Increased clearing of forestland for agriculture and human
settlement further compounds this.