BIODIVERSITY OF Mt. Busa Key biodiversity area

The Mt. Busa Key Biodiversity Area (KBA 196)—comprises the Busa mountain range, Mt. Melibengoy, and Malibato mountain range—is an extremely important conservation priority site located in the southern Philippines. The KBA 196 is shared by the Sarangani Province (southern slope of Busa) and South Cotabato Province (northern slope of Busa, Melibengoy, & Malibato). Several portions of this KBA  are currently being proposed as Protected Areas under the Philippine National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). The NIPAS refers to the classification and administration of all designated protected areas in the Philippines to conserve, preserve, and sustainably use the biodiversity therein. To support efforts for its protection, we continuously record and update biodiversity information of the KBA 196 and use this to inform policies and other conservation outcomes. 

OBJECTIVES

SUPPORT

The Rufford Foundation, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund, Idea Wild, Protected Area Management Board of Allah Valley Protected Landscape

Why Mt. Busa KBA?

The Busa Mountain Range, along with Mount Melibengoy and Malibato Mountain Range, comprises the Mount Busa Key Biodiversity Area or KBA 196. This KBA covers 116,198.7 hectares, the largest in the southern Mindanao region. Portions of KBA 196 in South Cotabato Province are within the Allah Valley Watershed Forest Reserve (27,417.59 ha; top), an initial component of the Philippine National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) and therefore afforded national protection (efforts to fully establish it under NIPAS are underway). The rest is currently not protected under national law. However, there are ongoing efforts to establish all portions within the Sarangani Province (42,720.20 ha; bottom) as a Protected Area. It was declared by the Provincial Government as a Local Conservation Area in 2020, which would help facilitate its establishment as Mt. Busa-MAKIMA Protected Landscape (proposed). The remaining 46,060.9 ha of the KBA 196 largely remains unprotected. 

Our team, led by myself and Aljohn Jay L. Saavedra, plays a key role in preparing the Protected Area Suitability Assessment (PASA) reports for proposed establishments, focusing primarily on the biodiversity section. These reports serve as crucial scientific evidence and policy documents for the proclamation of the KBA 196 as a protected area in accordance with the PH Republic Act No. 11038.


Photo Credits: 

PASA Report of the AVWFR (top); PASA Report of the WSW (bottom)

CONSERVATION OUTCOMES

Increased media coverage of Mt. Busa Key Biodiversity Area (KBA 196), specifically highlighting its biodiversity and the urgent threats it faces.

Our scientific and conservation efforts concerning KBA 196 have attracted significant attention from both local and international media outlets. This attention has been instrumental in garnering public support crucial for establishing various area-based protection measures within KBA 196, such as Protected Areas, Critical Habitats, and Local Conservation Areas. See media coverage for more information. 

Facilitated the adoption of the policy supporting the extensive monitoring of wild flora and fauna in the Allah Valley Protected Landscape 

We leveraged biodiversity data collected from various fieldworks conducted through the Biodiversity Monitoring System in AVPL, combined with insights from this project, to advocate for policy measures conducive to advancing biodiversity research within the protected area: PAMB-AVPL Resolution No. 35 Series of 2021

Informed the Protected Area Suitability Assessment of the Allah Valley Watershed Forest Reserve for the proposed Allah Valley Protected Landscape

The biodiversity data derived from this project played a crucial role in guiding the Protected Area Suitability Assessment of the Allah Valley Watershed Forest Reserve. As wildlife biologists dedicated to the AVWFR, my colleague Aljohn and I spearheaded field expeditions across the South Cotabato sections of the KBA. Leveraging this biodiversity information, we effectively garnered the support of local government units to advocate for the AVWFR's inclusion as a full component of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).

House Bill 5291 establishing AVWFR as a full component of the National Integrated Protected Areas System was first filed by the former 1st District Representative of South Cotabato Province in 2021 and was refiled by the sitting Congressman in 2022.  The bill has passed the 1st reading at the Philippine House of Representatives. 

Informed the Protected Area Suitability Assessment of the Western Sarangani Watershed for the proposed Mt. Busa MAKIMA Protected Landscape

The biodiversity data produced by this project played a pivotal role in shaping the Protected Area Suitability Assessment of the Western Sarangani Watershed, encompassing Mt. Busa in Sarangani Province. Following the completion of the PASA in 2021, the former Congressman of the Lone District of Sarangani filed House Bill 9055 at the Philippine House of Representatives for the legislation of the Mt. Busa-MAKIMA as a protected area under NIPAS pursuant to Republic Act No. 11038. 

In 2023, the bill was refiled (House Bill 9270) by the incumbent Congressman and is awaiting deliberation. We are actively working with stakeholders to provide the needed scientific data to further support this process.

Informed the updated species conservation assessments of several southern Mindanao-restricted species

The data from this project helped inform the updated conservation assessments under the IUCN Red List of the following southern Mindanao-restricted species: Pseudorabdion taylori (from DD to NT), Eutropis englei (from DD to LC), Brachymeles tiboliorum (still DD), Eutropis cuprea (new species, LC); and other Mindanao species as well: Emoia ruficauda (from DD to LC), Draco mindanensis (from VU to NT), and Lycodon dumerilli (still LC). 

Highlighted the contributions of early-career young researchers to biodiversity protection in southern Mindanao

Our work gained recognition from the Local Government Units of General Santos City (City Resolution No. 241 s. 2021) and South Cotabato Province (Provincial Development Council Resolution No. 2021-10), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region XII (Certificate of Recognition). We are optimistic that these official acknowledgments will inspire more young individuals to pursue careers in field biology and conservation in southern Mindanao.

Facilitated the creation of local policy instruments for the conservation of the recently rediscovered Guttman's Stream Frog and its habitat in the South Cotabato Province

Our efforts concerning the Guttman's Stream Frog have received endorsements from both the Protected Area Management Board of AVPL and the Provincial Local Government Unit of South Cotabato. The former sanctioned PAMB-AVPL Resolution No. 2021-53, while the latter endorsed Provincial Development Council Resolution No. 2021-24.

The discovery of Guttman's Stream Frog holds the exciting potential to be the trailblazing amphibian species championing the establishment of protected areas in the Philippines. It may be the first amphibian species to be highlighted in the protected area establishment process in the Philippines (see Explanatory Note for House Bill 5291 and House Bill 9270)

Provided accessible resources for the biodiversity in the southern Mindanao region

Our deliverables—including scientific papers, infographic guides, and educational materials—serve as accessible resources for disseminating knowledge about the local biodiversity in the southern Mindanao region. Additionally, I conduct complimentary public lectures, talks, and seminars to share insights from my research and conservation endeavors in KBA 196.

PROJECT MILESTONES

First account of vertebrate wildlife in Mt Melibengoy: This paper published the first account of vertebrate wildlife in Mt Melibengoy, a partially protected mountain complex within the KBA 196. Our collaborative effort resulted in the compilation of data on 130 bird species within the mountain. This brings the total bird species count in the KBA 196 to approximately 165, including the iconic Philippine eagle. The publication emphasizes Mt. Melibengoy's significance as a potential last refuge for Mindanao lorikeet populations in the country, a species facing extirpation from most mountains in Mindanao. Access the study here.  

Discovery and description of Pinalia campanulata: We described the first orchid species from the Mount Busa Key Biodiversity Area. This high-elevation species is distinguished by its prominently campanulate, crystal-white flowers unique in the genus Pinalia. We initially classified this species as Near Threatened pending additional empirical field data. This discovery bolsters the ongoing process to include the Allah Valley Watershed Forest Reserve as a full component of the Philippine National Integrated Protected Areas System. Access the study here.  

Publication of new natural history information and first photo of an enigmatic skink species Eutropis englei: We published the first natural history information of Eutropis englei, a common yet rarely documented skink occurring in south-central Mindanao, since its description in 1925. The publication produced the first-ever photo of the species in the scientific literature. Access the study here.

First report of the orchid flora of Mt Busa, Sarangani Province: We recorded at least 108 orchid species from 51 genera along the southern slope of Mt. Busa, Sarangani Province.  Fifty-three (53) species recorded are endemic to the Philippines, of which 15 species are known only to occur in mainland Mindanao. Five (5) species recorded are listed as threatened species in the Philippine Red List. Our record provides the first comprehensive list of orchids in southern Mindanao. By far, it is the highest diversity estimate among Philippine mountains published in the literature. Access the study here.

First record of Oberonia serrulata in the Philippines: The orchid Oberonia serrulata has been known only to occur in the highlands of New Guinea until the discovery of our team along the southern slope of Mt. Busa. This is a new locality record for the species and the first record for the Philippines. It is now recognized by the Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines as occurring in the country. Access the study here.

Rediscovery of Guttman's stream frog, an amphibian species lost for 27 years: We published the rediscovery of Guttman's stream frog (Pulchrana guttmani) in a high-elevation stream on the northern portion of the Busa Mountain Range. The species was lost and feared to be extinct for 27 years until our observation, highlighting the conservation relevance of the BMR. This rediscovery landed on the front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and was also featured by Mongabay, GMA News Online, PhilStar, and Manila Bulletin. Access the study here.

First report of the avian fauna in the Busa Mountain Range, Sarangani Province: Together with the Philippine Eagle Foundation, we published the first comprehensive list of the bird fauna in the BMR. The study reported a total of 116 species from 45 families and 88 genera. Nineteen (19) species recorded are threatened under the Philippine Red List, including the critically endangered Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi). We established the Busa Mountain Range as one of the strongholds of the Philippine eagle in Mindanao. Access the study here. 

Publication of new natural history information and first photo of an elusive snake Pseudorabdion taylori: I published new natural history information of Taylor's burrowing snake (Pseudorabdion taylori), which was previously listed as Data Deficient in the IUCN Red List (currently Near Threatened). This article reports the only known ecological information and photos of live specimens of the species. The species seems rare and nocturnal, occurring from lowland to montane forests. Access the study here. 

Publication of the first extensive herpetological survey in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao: We published the first comprehensive study of the amphibians and reptiles in Mt. Busa, as well as in southern Mindanao, providing a glimpse of the herpetological community in the region. We found at least 68 species of herpetofauna, of which 28 species were amphibians and 40 species were reptiles. Around 65% are endemic to the Philippines. Access the study here.