Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Ornithological information Many of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area have been recorded in this IBA. They include Philippine Eagle, Philippine Cockatoo and Lina's Sunbird, which was newly described in 1997 and is so far only known from one other site (Mt Pasian, in PH087). The presence of extensive areas of suitable habitat for the eagle suggests that this IBA will prove to be an important part of the network of sites required for the protection of this low-density species. The birds recorded in the IBA include both montane forest specialists, whose habitat remains relatively intact, and lowland and mid-altitude forest birds, whose habitat is almost certainly under much more immediate pressure.

Site description Mt Puting Bato (= Mt Tagubud), Mt Kampalili and Mt Mayo lie along the boundary of south-eastern Davao del Norte with Davao Oriental Province. They rise to 2,613, 2,388 and 1,747 m respectively, and are extremely rugged and inaccessible. This IBA comprises a large block of forest shown on recent forest cover maps. Most of this forest is montane, including extensive areas of mossy forest, but there are some areas of lowland forest remaining on the lower slopes. There are small communities of Mandayas in these mountains, who practice slash-and-burn agriculture and plantation farming on the more accessible flatter slopes.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Habitats

Other biodiversity The mammals of the area are unknown.

Management considerations The forests of this IBA have been reduced and fragmented by indiscriminate logging in the past and kaingin in the uplands. A combination of kaingin, commercial agriculture, illegal logging, mining activities (following the recent discovery of gold in this region) and road construction are slowly reducing and further fragmenting the remaining natural habitats. Philippine Eagle, parrots, hornbills and other wildlife are directly persecuted for food and the bird trade.

Protection status Not officially protected.

Conservation response A survey team visited Mt Puting Bato in 1993 as part of the Philippine Biodiversity Inventory and collected a new species of bird, Lina's Sunbird Aethopyga linaraborae. A survey of the Philippine Eagle and other birds was completed in this IBA in 1997 by a team from the Philippine Eagle Foundation. They recommended that more comprehensive bird surveys should be done to select and delineate priority areas for strict protection, that community-based forest protection programs should be established among upland communities, and that care should be taken to minimize the environmental impacts of new roads and other infrastructure developments.

References Bueser et al. (in prep.); Ibañez et al. (in prep.); Kennedy et al. (1997).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Mount Kampalili-Puting Bato. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

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