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close| Location | Philippines, Region X,Region XI |
| Central coordinates | 126o 19.00' East 8o 13.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A2 |
| Area | 20,000 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 203m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information The PICOP concession inland from Bislig is a popular site for birdwatchers, and there are many recent records there of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area. Despite the logging operations, the extensive areas of lowland forest which remain there support important populations of many threatened species, including Mindanao Brown-dove, Spotted Imperial-pigeon, Silvery Kingfisher, Rufous-lored Kingfisher, Wattled Broadbill, Azure-breasted Pitta, Philippine Leafbird, Little Slaty Flycatcher and Celestial Monarch, and possibly also Philippine Eagle. The mammalian fauna in the area is unknown.
Site description The town of Bislig on the eastern coast of Mindanao is the main point of access into the vast Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines (PICOP) concession area. This logging concession covers c.182,682 ha and extends from the lowland forests inland from Bislig (which are included in this IBA) to the higher altitude forests on Mt Pasian and Mt Agtuuganon (which are included in IBA PH087). The concession includes large areas of logged lowland forest and some areas of primary lowland forest, and over 40,000 ha devoted to plantation forestry. PICOP operates a fully integrated wood industrial complex at Bislig, the first and only one of its kind in Asia. It includes the first newsprint plant in Asia. It is a popular destination for birdwatchers, as it is one of the best places to see several scarce lowland forest birds.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippine Duck Anas luzonica | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Critically Endangered |
| Philippine Hawk-eagle Nisaetus philippensis | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Mindanao Bleeding-heart Gallicolumba crinigera | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Mindanao Brown-dove Phapitreron brunneiceps | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Spotted Imperial-pigeon Ducula carola | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Blue-capped Kingfisher Actenoides hombroni | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Rufous-lored Kingfisher Todiramphus winchelli | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Philippine Dwarf-kingfisher Ceyx melanurus | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Silvery Kingfisher Alcedo argentata | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Mindanao Broadbill Eurylaimus steerii | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Azure-breasted Pitta Pitta steerii | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Celestial Monarch Hypothymis coelestis | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Little Slaty Flycatcher Ficedula basilanica | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Philippine Leafbird Chloropsis flavipennis | - | 2001 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | - | |
| Forest | - |
Management considerations This IBA lies within the logging concession of PICOP Resources, Inc. There is likely to be further logging there in the future, and it is unclear how much of the old growth forest will survive in the medium to long term. Large areas of natural forest have been replaced by plantations (of Gmelina), which are of little value for birds or other plants or animals, and it was recently reported that some of the remaining forest is being cleared by settlers.
Protection status Not officially protected.
References Freese and O’Brien (1983).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Bislig. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013
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