Plant, animal species on 3 Mindanao mountains threatened

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — Many Philippine floral and faunal species continue to be threatened with extinction due to the unabated destruction of the country’s forests.

This is best exemplified by the situation in three Mindanao mountains which, until recently, were still lush with forest cover.

But time is running out on some species, noted a team of researchers from the Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Musuan, Bukidnon.

The team — composed of Dr. Victor Amoroso, Dr. Cecilia Amoroso, Dr. Jose Escarlos Jr. and Alma Mohagan — conducted a study on the three mountains and what they found out was disturbing.

Their findings are contained in a report titled "Participatory Inventory and Conservation Studies of Endemic, Endangered and Economically Important Flora and Fauna in Selected Forests of Mindanao."

The report won an award from the Los Baños-based Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCARRD) during a program at the Manila Hotel marking PCARRD’s 31st anniversary.

The mountains covered by the research were Mt. Musuan, Mt. Kalatungan and Mt. Malindang, which straddle Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental.

The CMU researchers said the Philippines is one of 17 countries dubbed both as a megadiversity country and a biodiversity "hot spot."

Centers of endemism

The Philippines has five major centers of endemism, including Mindanao which supports its own unique wildlife.

Mindanao, the CMU team said, is considered to have a high level of biodiversity owing to its high mountain ranges. Of the 10 highest mountains in the Philippines, six are on the island.

"However, these high mountains with unique biodiversity resources have not been spared from the wanton destruction owing to human activities," they said.

Thus, more than 93 percent of the country’s original forest cover has been lost.

"If these activities are allowed to continue without immediate move to inventory and conserve the plants and animals and their habitats, these species are threatened and bound to become extinct," they warned.

The researchers conducted the study with the participation of indigenous groups in the areas covered — the Subanons, Manobos and Talaandigs.

They identified 1,049 plant species in the three forests surveyed, with Mt. Musuan accounting for the bulk (530).

An assessment of the plants showed that 12 are endangered, 221 are endemic, 17 rare, and 187 economically important.

Of the economically important species, 42 are edible, 45 medicinal, 56 used for lumber/wood, 20 used for handicrafts, 19 ornamental, 10 socio-culturally important, and three used for fuel.

A total of 129 wildlife species were recorded on Mt. Kalatungan, 117 on Mt. Malindang, and 44 on Mt. Musuan.

One critically endangered bird species, Pithecophaga jefferyi (monkey-eating eagle), was observed on Mt. Kalatungan and Mt. Malindang.

On Mt. Kalatungan, two endangered animal species were identified – one bird (Aceros leococephalus) and one mammal (Tarsius syrichta).

Vulnerable Species

Nineteen vulnerable species (nine mammals, five amphibians, three reptiles and two birds) were observed. A total of 139 species were noted to be "near-threatened."

To help conserve the prized flora and fauna, the CMU team successfully propagated for conservation 50 species of endangered, endemic and economically important plants in the greenhouse/fernery.

Summing up, the researchers recommended measures for the conservation and protection of the flora and fauna of the three mountains.

They said the three study sites should be conserved and protected since they are habitats of 17 endangered, 268 endemic, 22 rare, 250 economically important, and 18 socio-culturally important species.

Local officials, together with indigenous groups, local experts and scientists, should formulate ordinances regulating the harvesting of forest products, they added.

The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), should also look into the data gathered by the research team as basis for formulating measures to protect the endangered and endemic flora and fauna, the CMU researchers said.

Existing policies on the harvesting and extraction of forest resources such as rattan, tree fern trunks, abaca and wildlife should also be strictly implemented.

"If protection and conservation of these species could not be done, there is a possibility that the population of these endangered and endemic flora and fauna would decline and (be extinct)," the researchers concluded.