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From the Communication AND Information Division,
Haribon Foundation
Mount Diwata lies at the southern end of the
Diwata range in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur provinces in
northeastern Mindanao. It is considered as one of the 117 Important
Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) that have been identified throughout the
Philippines by using a set of internationally- agreed categories and
criteria designed to identify areas that are of global significance
for biodiversity conservation. The most important habitats in the
IBAs are lowland and montane forests, and there are also some
wetland IBAs and seabird colonies on oceanic islets.
Unknown to some, lowland forest is the most
highly threatened habitat in many parts of the Philippines, and most
of the significant remaining areas of lowland forest have therefore
been selected as IBAs.
The Mt. Diwata IBA includes the forested
southern section of this range, south of Mt. Hilong-hilong. The
southern part of the Diwata range is relatively low, the highest
peak rising to only 1,261 meters. A large block of old growth forest
is shown in this IBA on recent forest cover maps. The forest will be
montane around the higher peaks of the IBA, but there are also
likely to be substantial areas of lowland forest on the lower
slopes.
Several of the threatened and restricted range
species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area have
been recorded in or near to the Mt. Diwata range, including the
Philippine Eagle, mostly during a collecting expedition in 1976. The
mountains around Mt. Diwata are less well studied than Mt.
Hilong-hilong in the northen section of the Diwata range, but they
are likely to prove to have a similar avifauna. The extensive
lowland and montane forests that are reported to survive in this IBA
could therefore support significant populations of many species of
conservation concern, and the lowlands forests may prove to be
particularly important.
Conservation issues
The forests of this IBA are reported to be under
pressure from encroachment for kaingin and the extraction of timber.
However, Mt. Diwata itself apparently receives protection through
the presence of insurgents in the forests.
The Lianga Bay Logging Company operated in the
area until 1994/1995. With financial support from the MacArthur
Foundation, the concession is managed by a cooperative company
composed of former employees of the logging company.
Mt. Diwata, like other IBAs, was once clothed in
rich tropical forests, but these have been much reduced during the
latter half of the 20th century. Today, it is estimated that only
one million hectares of primary forest is left in the entire
country. The wholesale of loss of natural habitats has led to
predictions that the Philippines could soon suffer mass extinction
of species.
If effective action is not taken soon to protect
the remaining fragments of forest and other natural habitats, many
unique species will be lost before many Filipinos are fully aware of
the riches they possess.
Want to help Haribon Foundation save the
remaining natural forests? Email us at rainforestation@haribon.org.ph.
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