Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Ornithological information  Many of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Luzon Endemic Bird Area have been recorded on or near to Mt Bulusan, and the relatively extensive forests which are reported to remain there are likely to support important populations of some of these species.

Site description Bulusan Volcano National Park is near the tip of the Camarines (Bicol) Peninsula, at the south-eastern extreme of Luzon Island. There are three main peaks within the park, the active Bulusan Volcano, the highest of the three, which is characterized by numerous deep ravines and caves, and Sharp Peak and Mt Jormahan. The center of the mountain complex forms an undrained area known as the Aguingay Lake, which dries up during summer. Another lake in the Park, Lake Bulusan, is a famous tourist destination. This region lies within the typhoon belt and is subject to severe storms between September and November. A substantial area of forest remains in the park, including both montane forest around the peak, and lowland forest on the slopes. Other habitats include secondary grassland, freshwater lakes and pools, small settlements and rural gardens, abandoned farmland and disturbed ground. The park supports the needs of the nearby communities through its forest products, watershed and recreational values. Local communities utilize the lower slopes as agricultural land. It is the source of water for several communities and for the irrigation of surrounding agricultural land, and it provides natural protection from calamities such as typhoons and flashfloods.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Bulusan Volcano	National Park	3,720	protected area contains site	3,673

Habitats

Other biodiversity  Mammals that have been recorded on Mt Bulusan include the heavily hunted Philippine Brown Deer Cervus mariannus, Philippine Warty Pig Sus philippensis and the threatened southern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat Phloeomys cumingi. Some of the other threatened endemics that occur on Mt Isarog possible also occur. Endemic herpetofauna recorded in this IBA include the Rough-backed Forest Frog Platymantis corrugatus, Common Forest Frog Platymantis dorsalis, Yellow-striped Slender Tree Skink Lipinia pulchella, Jagor’s Sphenomorphus Sphenomorphus jagori and the threatened Sailfin Water Lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus.

Management considerations The natural habitats of the park have declined over the years as a result of extensive kaingin activities, fuelwood gathering and the illegal cutting of trees. Intense, uncontrolled hunting further impacts on the biodiversity of the park. As a result, for example, the Philippine Deer, which used to abound in the area, is now so rare that it is seldom caught. Wild plant collectors also frequent the park, and commonly collected species include ground orchids Phagus sp., and two Mt Bulusan endemic plant species, Prenephrium bulusantum (a fern) and Schefflera bulusanicum.

Protection status Bulusan Volcano National Park was declared by Proc. 811 on 7 June 1935. It is proposed as a natural park under the NIPAS.

Conservation response In support for the protection of the park, DENR, LGUs, local communities and local NGOs have drawn up plans for the rehabilitation and protection of what remains of the forest and its resources. Proposed site management activities include resource assessment, habitat rehabilitation, resource protection, ecotourism and interpretation programs. Surveys are required in this IBA, to investigate the current status of the threatened and restricted-range birds and other biodiversity.

References Alcala (1986); Alcala and Brown (1998); DENR (IPAP); Diesmos and Altamirano (1995); Peñas et al. (1996).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Bulusan Volcano Natural Park. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

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