Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal National Park (9724)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal National Park
Central coordinates: Latitude: 14.0667, Longitude: 121.4833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 2177
Area of KBA (km2): 126.5151
Protected area coverage (%): 84.30
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Mt Banahaw is an active volcano that rises steeply to 2,177 m. The isolated twin peaks of Mt Banahaw and Mt San Cristobal straddle the border between the provinces of Laguna and Quezon. The most extensive stands of closed canopy forest in Laguna Province are on Mt Banahaw. The forest types include lowland dipterocarp forest on the lower slopes and montane forest above about 900 m, including mossy forest around the peak. On the lower slopes of the mountains there are coconut plantations intensively inter-cropped with fruit trees and areas of kaingin, and the surrounding area is intensively cultivated. The forests are a vital watershed for the surrounding lowlands. The accessibility of this IBA from the towns of Dolores, Sariaya, Tayabas and Lukban makes it as a popular destination for tourists, including mountaineers. It is considered as a centre by the religious denominations of southern Luzon, and is visited by pilgrims.
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: Several of the threatened and restricted-range birds of the Luzon Endemic Bird Area have been recorded in or near to this IBA. It is likely that the relatively extensive forests that remain in Mt Banahaw-San Cristobal National Park support important populations of some of these species. Non-bird biodiversity: Endemic mammals have been recorded in this IBA, including the Philippine Pygmy Fruit Bat Haplonycteris fischeri , Luzon Pygmy Fruit Bat Otopteropus cartilagonodus, Small Luzon Forest Mouse Apomys microdon and the Philippine Warty Pig Sus philippensis. Mt Banahao is the type locality of two endemic herpetofauna, Steere’s Sphenomorphus Sphenomorphus steerei and Mountain Forest Frog Platymantis montanus. Other endemic amphibians in the area include Banahao Forest Frog Platymantis banahao, Diminutive Forest Frog Platymantis mimulus, Naomi’s Forest Frog Platymantis naomii, Common Forest Tree Frog Philautus surdus and four Platymantis species that have yet to be described. The IBA also supports a number of unique species of palms, ferns, and flowering plants such as Aglaia banahaensis.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Mt Banahaw is an active volcano that rises steeply to 2,177 m. The isolated twin peaks of Mt Banahaw and Mt San Cristobal straddle the border between the provinces of Laguna and Quezon. The most extensive stands of closed canopy forest in Laguna Province are on Mt Banahaw. The forest types include lowland dipterocarp forest on the lower slopes and montane forest above about 900 m, including mossy forest around the peak. On the lower slopes of the mountains there are coconut plantations intensively inter-cropped with fruit trees and areas of kaingin, and the surrounding area is intensively cultivated. The forests are a vital watershed for the surrounding lowlands. The accessibility of this IBA from the towns of Dolores, Sariaya, Tayabas and Lukban makes it as a popular destination for tourists, including mountaineers. It is considered as a center by the religious denominations of southern Luzon, and is visited by pilgrims.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 67 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main pressures on this IBA are from illegal logging, kaingin, encroachment into forest areas for permanent agriculture, and the collection of forest products. Hunting in the park remains a problem. Quarrying and mining activities around the park, especially in the towns of Dolores and Sariaya, began to operate in 1994. The large numbers of mountaineers and occasional hikers who visit the park, especially during the summer months (up to 5,000 hikers in a month), put considerable pressure on the natural environment. Moreover, during Holy Week, large numbers of pilgrims of several religious denominations converge on Mt Banahaw. Up to 300,000 pilgrim and hikers are reported to visit the area, particularly in the towns of Dolores and Sariaya.
Additional information
References: References: Alcala and Brown (1998); Dans and Gonzalez (1995); Davis et al. (1995); Diesmos (1999); Mallari and Diesmos (in press).