Mariveles mountains (9709)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Mariveles mountains
Central coordinates: Latitude: 14.5167, Longitude: 120.4833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1420
Area of KBA (km2): 120.84884
Protected area coverage (%): 1.03
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Mariveles Mountains are in southern Bataan province, near the entrance to Manila Bay (PH010), and rise steeply from sea level to 1,420 m. An area of forest is shown there on recent forest cover maps, which is reported to include both lowland and montane forest, including mossy forest. This includes old reforestation plantations in the former Lamao Arsenal and old growth forest at the peak of Mt Mariveles.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) KBA identified in the CI/CEPF Conservation Outcomes booklet for the Philippines Hotspot (2006). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat category follow the 2004 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: Many of the threatened and restricted-range birds of the Luzon Endemic Bird Areas have been recorded in or near to this IBA, but there is little recent information on their status there. This is the only site in the Philippines where Ijima's Leaf-warbler has been recorded, although this species is difficult to locate and identify and presumably also winters elsewhere in the islands. It is also notable for the records of the highly threatened Isabela Oriole. This species, Luzon Striped-babbler and Furtive Flycatcher appear to have an unusual disjunct distribution, being recorded from the Bataan peninsula and the Sierra Madre in eastern Luzon. However, this may prove to be a result of gaps in the coverage of some other parts of Luzon by ornithologists. A subspecies of Elegant Tit, Parus elegans gilliardi, is only known from the Bataan peninsula. Non-bird biodiversity: Baseline surveys of the mammals and herpetofauna have yet to be conducted in the area.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The Mariveles Mountains are in southern Bataan province, near the entrance to Manila Bay (PH010), and rise steeply from sea level to 1,420 m. An area of forest is shown there on recent forest cover maps, which is reported to include both lowland and montane forest, including mossy forest. This includes old reforestation plantations in the former Lamao Arsenal and old growth forest at the peak of Mt Mariveles.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 67 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Potential threats to this IBA include exploration for mining, should current applications be approved.