North Eastern Cagayan Protected Landscape and Seascape (9713)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: North Eastern Cagayan Protected Landscape and Seascape
Central coordinates: Latitude: 18.2333, Longitude: 122.1667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1133
Area of KBA (km2): 2275.86082
Protected area coverage (%): 7.10
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Mt Cagua lies at the northern end of the Sierra Madre mountains, in north-east Cagayan Province. The IBA includes two large blocks of old growth forest shown on recent forest cover maps, and extends south to the Mt Tabuan area, near Twin Peaks, north of Mt Cetaceo (PH014). Mt Cagua rises to just over 1,000 m, so the forest is mainly lowland in type, with limited areas of montane forest around the highest peaks.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. 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 Area have been recorded in or near to this IBA, including mainly lowland forest specialists. Many of these are known there only by historical records, including some from Cape Engaño at the northern extreme of the IBA. However, like other IBAs in the Sierra Madre, it is likely that the avifauna on Mt Cagua will prove to be similar to that of Northern Sierra Madre Nature Park (PH015). The relatively extensive forests in this IBA are likely to support significant numbers of Philippine Eagle. The record of the highly threatened Isabela Oriole is particularly notable. Non-bird biodiversity: Baseline surveys of mammals and herpetofauna have not yet been conducted in the area. Populations of two northeast Luzon endemic rodents, the Sierra Madre Shrew-mouse Archboldomys musseri and the Northern Luzon Shrew-mouse Crunomys fallax have been recorded, and many other Luzon endemics may occur in the area.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Mt Cagua lies at the northern end of the Sierra Madre mountains, in north-east Cagayan Province. The IBA includes two large blocks of old growth forest shown on recent forest cover maps, and extends south to the Mt Tabuan area, near Twin Peaks, north of Mt Cetaceo (PH014). Mt Cagua rises to just over 1,000 m, so the forest is mainly lowland in type, with limited areas of montane forest around the highest peaks.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 67 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The susceptibility of this area to typhoons, and lack of access facilities have helped to minimize the threat from kaingin farming along the eastern slopes of Sierra Madre. However, timber-harvesting operations of various scales have been reported to be widespread along the whole length of the Pacific coastline. There have been feasibility studies on building roads to enhance the accessibility of towns isolated by the Sierra Madre range. If roads were to be built there would be both direct and indirect impacts on the forest, and the area would be opened to settlers and further illegal tree cutting.