PHILIPPINE

BIODIVERSITY

IN CRI SIS

DEL ROSARIO, MA . EDDEL FRANCESC A

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
NOVEMBER 2016

KEY QUESTIONS
WHAT IS BIODIVERSIT Y?
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
WHAT MAKES THE PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY SPECIAL?
HOW CAN WE SAY THAT IT IS IN CRISIS?
WHO ARE THOSE IN CRISIS?
WHY ARE THEY IN THIS SITUATION?

Why is Biodiversity Important? -Kim Preshoff

WHY IS BIODIVERSIT Y IMPORTANT?

VARIETY OF ORGANISMS

STABILITY AND RESILIENCE OF ECOSYSTEMS

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

energy

ecotourism

food

raw materials

clean air
minerals

crop pollination

pest control

clean water provision

religion and culture

Science

carbon absorption

temperature regulation
inspiration

What is a Biodiversity Hotspot?

SO WHAT IF PH BIODIVERSITY DISAPPEARS?

WE RARELY SEE THEM ANYWAY

It will degrade quality of

life in the Philippines
It will be a global loss

ENDEMISM. Most of our

flora and fauna cannot be
found anywhere else in the
world. Once they
disappear here, they may
be forever lost.

INTERCONNECTEDNESS.
The poor state of Philippine
Ecosystem will weaken the
global ecosystem because
they are connected and
dependent upon each
other.

HOW DID WE SAY WE ARE IN CRISIS?

DEGRADING/WEAKENING ECOSYSTEMS

disappearing and damaged natural habitats

DWINDLING SPECIES DIVERSITY

many threatened and extinct species

LOW GENETIC VARIATION

small populations, isolated in fragmented habitats

Because of Human Activities

THREATENED

SPECIES
in the Philippine
Ecosystems

EXTINCTION disappearance of evolutionary lineages

good to make way for other species or new species
bad when happening faster than recovery and adaptation

International Union for Conservation of Nature

IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria

one of the most renowned processes in
assessing the extinction risk of species

IUCN Red List aims to "convey the urgency and scale of conservation
problems to the public and policy makers, and to motivate the global
community to try to reduce species extinction." (IUCN, 2001)

IUCN Red List Categories

EXTINCT

THREATENED

LOWER RISK

Extinct

Critically Endangered

Near Threatened

Extinct in the Wild

Endangered

Least Concern

Locally Extinct

Vulnerable

Ecologically Extinct
Extant

THREATENED CRITERIA
HIGH RISK OF EXTINCTION
1. Critically Endangered
- population has declined more than 80% in last 10 years
- limited habitat
- fewer than 250 mature individuals
- probability of extinction is at least 50% within 10 years
2. Endangered
- population has declined more than 50% in last 10 years
- limited habitat, at most 5 locations
- fewer than 2500 mature individuals
- probability of extinction is at least 20% within 10 years
3. Vulnerable
- population has declined more than 30% in last 10 years
- limited habitat, at most 10 locations
- fewer than 10,000 mature individuals
- probability of extinction is at least 50% within 10 years

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

TAMARAW Babulus mindorensis

Critically Endangered, Endemic
less than 250 mature indiv
95% of individuals are in one
subpopulation (Mount IglitBaco National Park), which is
less than 5,000 hectares in
area.
feed primarily on grasses, as
well as young bamboo shoots,
in open grasslands, resting
within tall grasses or dense
forest.
Nocturnal because of people

Game Time
Mindoro Dwarf Buffalo
endemic to Mindoro Island

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

VISAYAN WARTY PIG

Sus cebifrons
Critically Endangered, Endemic
Panay, Guimaras, Negros,
Cebu, Masbate and (probably)
Ticao Islands.
lives in forests
threatened by illegal logging,
kaingin, and hunting pressure.
meat sells twice the price of
domestic pork
regarded as pests by farmers
threatened gene pool through
hybridization

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

PHILIPPINE SPOTTED DEER

Cervus alfredi or Rusa alfredi
Endangered, Endemic
Negros, Panay, Cebu, Masbate
lives in forests, prefers steep
rugged slope of dipterocarps
inaccessible to humans
Eats low-growing leaves and
buds
Hunted for food, as trophies
and as pets (particularly for local
politicians)

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

PHILIPPINE BARE-BACKED
FRUIT BAT Dobsonia chapmani
Critically Endangered, Endemic
Cebu and Negros Islands
The species lives in small caves
or cracks in limestone, and
forages in karst habitats
Can roost in disturbed habitats
(coconut fronds)
harvested for meat
disturbed by miners and
deforestation

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

PHILIPPINE TUBE-NOSED
FRUIT BAT Nyctimene rabori
Endangered, Endemic
previously Critically Endangered
Cebu, Negros, Sibuyan (Mt.
Siburan)
Found in or near forests, thus
threatened by deforestation
Recently near bodies of water

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

PHILIPPINE EAGLE
Pithecophaga jefferyi
Critically Endangered, Endemic
eastern Luzon, Samar, Leyte
and Mindanao
poor dispersal and survivals of
young and sub-adults
preys on Philippine flying lemur,
cloud rats, snakes, monitor
lizard, birds, bats, & monkeys
each pair needs 133 km2,
including an average of 68 km2
of forest
monogamous with 2-yr
breeding cycle

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

SULU HORNBILL
Anthracoceros montani
Critically Endangered, Endemic
endemic to 3 islands in Sulu
now in only 1 island: Tawi-tawi
At least 40 individuals with 27
mature ones
Dipterocarp forests turned to
Oil Palm Plantations
need large trees for nesting
shot for food and practice
collected for illegal trade

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

PHILIPPINE COCKATOO
Anthracoceros montani
Critically Endangered, Endemic
endemic to the whole PH
Now mostly found in Palawan
Some in Sulu and Polilio Islands
est. 550-1200 individuals
Threatened by deforestation,
illegal trading, poaching of nests
Needs lowland forests with
rivers/coasts/mangroves, and
even frequents corn & rice fields
as pests

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

BLACK-HODED COUCAL
Centropus steerii
Critically Endangered, Endemic

Endemic to Mindoro: Siburan,

Puerto Galera, Malpalon
Key Area in Siburan
50-249 mature individuals
lives in mid to lowland
dipterocarp forest with thick
vegetation, vines, bamboo
very small and fragmented
populations

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

Cebu Flowerpecker
Dicaeum quadricolor
Critically Endangered, Endemic

Endemic to Cebu
60-70 mature individuals
Found in Tabunan,Nug-As,
Dalaguete and Mt Lantoy
Threatened by deforestation &
increasing competition with D.
australe

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

MINDANAO BLEEDING HEART

Gallicolumba crinigera
Vulnerable, Endemic

Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Dinagat,

Mindanao and Basilan

NEGROS BLEEDING HEART

Gallicolumba keayi
Critically Endangered, Endemic

Panay and Negros

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

SULU BLEEDING HEART

Gallicolumba menagei
Critically Endangered, Endemic

known from Tawi-tawi 1891

presumed alive from 1995 local reports

MINDORO BLEEDING HEART

Gallicolumba platenae
Critically Endangered, Endemic

Puerto Galera, MUFRC Experimental Forest,

Siburan and Mt Iglit-Baco National Park

THREATENED LAND ANIMALS

52 OF 183 TOTAL MAMMALS, 41 OF 120 ENDEMIC
59+ OF 57 7 BIRDS, 59 OF 195+ ENDEMIC

ISAROG STRIPED SHREW-RAT

Chrotomys gonzalesi
Near Threatened, Endemic
Previously Critically Endangered

ISAROG SHREW-RAT
Rhynchomys isarogensis
Vulnerable Endemic

ISAROG SHREW MOUSE

Archboldomys luzonensis
Vulnerable, Endemic
Previously Endangered

All are endemic to Mt. Isarog, Camarines Sur

THREATENED REPTILES
8 OF 258 REPTILES THREATENED, 4 OF 170 ENDEMIC

PHILIPPINE CROCODILE
Crocodylus mindorensis
Critically Endangered, Endemic
Freshwater crocodile
"Buwaya" or "bukarot"
Busuanga, Luzon, Masbate,
Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros,
Samar), Sulu
small wetlands, shallow natural
ponds, creeks and marshes, manmade water reservoirs, littoral
creeks and mangrove areas, and
faster-flowing larger rivers in the
Sierra Madre and Cordillera
Mountains
killed for meat and hide, and out of
fear for personal safety

THREATENED REPTILES
8 OF 258 REPTILES THREATENED, 4 OF 170 ENDEMIC

HAWKSBILL TURTLE
Eretmochelys imbricata
Critically Endangered
has global distribution
1 of 5 turtles in Philippines
1 of 11 threatened worldwide
Bicol, Mindoro, Samar, Palawan
thrives in tropical coral reefs
migratory: open ocean to lagoons
and even mangrove swamps in
estuaries
eats sponges and invertebrates
threatened by marine pollution,
trading, hunting for shells, beach
developments, egg poaching

THREATENED REPTILES
8 OF 258 REPTILES THREATENED, 4 OF 170 ENDEMIC

PALAWAN FOREST TURTLE

Siebenrockiella leytensis
Critically Endangered, Endemic
freshwater turtle "bakoko"
only endemic turtle
3 allegedly in Leyte, 1921
1 in northern Palawan 1988
thought to be extinct until found
in illegal pet trade
150 in 2007 and 110 in 2008
3,831 seized from syndicates of
illegal food trade in China

THREATENED REPTILES
8 OF 258 REPTILES THREATENED, 4 OF 170 ENDEMIC

GRAY'S MONITOR
Varanus olivaceus
Endangered, Endemic
Butuan/Polilio Island
arboreal and extremely shy in
lowland dipterocarp forests
feeds on tough, reddish-orange
fruit of the pandanas palm tree
habitat destroyed for coconut
and rice plantations

THREATENED AMPHIBIANS
48 OF 101 AMPHIBIANS THREATENED, 24 OF 78 ENDEMIC
HOWEVER, MANY OTHER SPECIES ARE NOT COMPLETELY ASSESSED

ISLAND FOREST FROG/

PHILIPPINE LIMESTONE FROG
Platymantis insulatus
Critically Endangered, Endemic
South Gigante Island, Iloilo
limestone caves, rock crevices
and rock fissures.
threatened by mining for Guano
deposits, limestone quarrying
and deforestation

Global Warming

THREATENED AMPHIBIANS
48 OF 101 AMPHIBIANS THREATENED, 24 OF 78 ENDEMIC

OTHER PLATYMANTIS SPECIES

Endangered, Endemic
forest frogs, need caves, forest cover, or
leaf litters.

P. taylori - Sierra Madre, leaf litter

P. lawtoni - Romblon, Tablas, Sibuyan
P. cagayanensis - North Luzon and Palaui Islands

HAZEL'S FOREST FROG P. hazelae - Negros and

Masbate
MT. DATA FOREST FROG P. subterrestris - north
Luzon, Mt. Polis, Mt. Pulog
NEGROS CAVE FROG P. spelaeus - Negros
Island
POLILIO FOREST FROG P. polilensis - Polilio and
Aurora
PANAY FOREST FROG P. panayensis - Panay
Island
SMOOTH SKINNED FOREST FROG P. levigata Romblon, Tablas, sibuyan
NEGROS FOREST FROG P. negrosensis Negros and Panay

THREATENED AMPHIBIANS
48 OF 101 AMPHIBIANS THREATENED, 24 OF 78 ENDEMIC
HOWEVER, MANY OTHER SPECIES ARE NOT COMPLETELY ASSESSED

PALAWAN HORNED FROG

Megophrys ligayae
Endangered, Endemic
Balabac and Palawan Islands
inhabits the forest floor litter of
lowland rainforests
breeds in quiet pool of mountain
streams. (The larvae are
suspension feeders)
threatened by deforestation,
pollution in mountain streams and
mine tailings

THREATENED FISHES
60 OF 3094 FISHES THREATENED, 50+ OF 78 ENDEMIC

DWARF PYGMY GOBY

Pandaka pygmea
Critically Endangered
Worlds Smallest Freshwater Fish
Malabon River, Rizal
Culion Island, Palawan
also in Indonesia and Singapore
needs brackish water and
mangrove areas

THREATENED FISHES
60 OF 3094 FISHES THREATENED, 50+ OF 78 ENDEMIC

WHITE TOPESHARK
Hemitriakis leucoperiptera
Endangered
Dumaguete, Negros, also Bagac
Bay, Bataan
no sightings in 50 years

THREATENED FISHES
60 OF 3094 FISHES THREATENED, 50+ OF 78 ENDEMIC

CYPRINIDS: Barbodes

BITUNGU B. truncatulus
PAIT B. amarus
BAOLAN B. baoulan
DISA B. disa
KATAPA-TAPA B. flavifuscus
KATOLO B. katalo
B. resumes
B. clemensi
B. pachycheilus

Critically Endangered
Found in Lake Lanao
possibly extinct
threats: fishing, traditional fishing
methods, predatory & alien
species

THREATENED FISHES
60 OF 3094 FISHES THREATENED, 50+ OF 78 ENDEMIC

BUTANDING - WHALE SHARK

Rhincodon typus
Endangered
largest living fish
Atlantic and Indo-Pacific
Highly Migratory
Donsol, Sorsogon,
Oslob, Cebu, Batangas

THREATENED PLANTS
ONLY 4% ASSESSED: 11824 OF 287655
7 796 OF 10614 VASCUL AR, 305 OF 980 GYMNOSPERMS, 80 OF 93 MOSSES

RAFLESSIA
Rafflesia manillana Malaboo
Rafflesia speciosa Uruy
Rafflesia schadenbergiana Bo-o
Critically Endangered

THREATENED PLANTS
ONLY 4% ASSESSED: 11824 OF 287655
7 796 OF 10614 VASCUL AR, 305 OF 980 GYMNOSPERMS, 80 OF 93 MOSSES

SMOOTH & PRICKLY NARRA

Pterocarpus indicus
Critically Endangered

THREATENED PLANTS
ONLY 4% ASSESSED: 11824 OF 287655
7 796 OF 10614 VASCUL AR, 305 OF 980 GYMNOSPERMS, 80 OF 93 MOSSES

PITCHER PLANTS Nepenther sp.

N. argentii Argent Pitcher plant
N. merrilliana Mindanao giant Pitcher plant
N. sibuyanensis Sibuyan Pitcher plant
Critically Endangered

WHY ARE THEY IN CRISIS?

What are the factors linked to extinction?

ENDEMICITY
BODY SIZE

INSULARITY

restricted range

island isolation

life history

MIGRATION
long-distance travel?

POPULATION SIZE
HOME RANGE

small and declining?

habitat space
requirements

ECONOMIC VALUE
exploitation

MOBILITY
find better habitats?

LIFESPAN
short?

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS?
specialist? narrow niche?

CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES

CITES is an international agreement between governments. It aim is to ensure that
international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their
survival. The parties to CITES meet every four years in a Conference of the Parties (CoP).

KEY LEARNINGS
IUCN RED LIS T
PREDICTING RISK OF EXTINCTION
HUMAN-INDUCED THREATS
S TILL MUC H MORE TO KNOW ABOUT BIODIVERSIT Y
COMBAT HABITAT LOSS

ILLEGAL WILDLIFE HUNTING

ALIEN SPECIES

POLLUTION
CLIMATE CHANGE

CONSERVATION