Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (9735)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Bulusan Volcano Natural Park
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.7833, Longitude: 124.0500
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 500 to 1560
Area of KBA (km2): 107.13421
Protected area coverage (%): 33.43
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Bulusan Volcano National Park is near the tip of the Camarines (Bicol) Peninsula, at the south-eastern extreme of Luzon Island. There are three main peaks within the park, the active Bulusan Volcano, the highest of the three, which is characterized by numerous deep ravines and caves, and Sharp Peak and Mt Jormahan. The center of the mountain complex forms an undrained area known as the Aguingay Lake, which dries up during summer. Another lake in the Park, Lake Bulusan, is a famous tourist destination. This region lies within the typhoon belt and is subject to severe storms between September and November. A substantial area of forest remains in the park, including both montane forest around the peak, and lowland forest on the slopes. Other habitats include secondary grassland, freshwater lakes and pools, small settlements and rural gardens, abandoned farmland and disturbed ground. The park supports the needs of the nearby communities through its forest products, watershed and recreational values. Local communities utilize the lower slopes as agricultural land. It is the source of water for several communities and for the irrigation of surrounding agricultural land, and it provides natural protection from calamities such as typhoons and flashfloods.
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 species of the Luzon Endemic Bird Area have been recorded on or near to Mt Bulusan, and the relatively extensive forests which are reported to remain there are likely to support important populations of some of these species. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals that have been recorded on Mt Bulusan include the heavily hunted Philippine Brown Deer Cervus mariannus, Philippine Warty Pig Sus philippensis and the threatened southern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat Phloeomys cumingi. Some of the other threatened endemics that occur on Mt Isarog possible also occur. Endemic herpetofauna recorded in this IBA include the Rough-backed Forest Frog Platymantis corrugatus, Common Forest Frog Platymantis dorsalis, Yellow-striped Slender Tree Skink Lipinia pulchella, Jagor’s Sphenomorphus Sphenomorphus jagori and the threatened Sailfin Water Lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Bulusan Volcano National Park is near the tip of the Camarines (Bicol) Peninsula, at the south-eastern extreme of Luzon Island. There are three main peaks within the park, the active Bulusan Volcano, the highest of the three, which is characterized by numerous deep ravines and caves, and Sharp Peak and Mt Jormahan. The center of the mountain complex forms an undrained area known as the Aguingay Lake, which dries up during summer. Another lake in the Park, Lake Bulusan, is a famous tourist destination. This region lies within the typhoon belt and is subject to severe storms between September and November. A substantial area of forest remains in the park, including both montane forest around the peak, and lowland forest on the slopes. Other habitats include secondary grassland, freshwater lakes and pools, small settlements and rural gardens, abandoned farmland and disturbed ground. The park supports the needs of the nearby communities through its forest products, watershed and recreational values. Local communities utilize the lower slopes as agricultural land. It is the source of water for several communities and for the irrigation of surrounding agricultural land, and it provides natural protection from calamities such as typhoons and flashfloods.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 67 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The natural habitats of the park have declined over the years as a result of extensive kaingin activities, fuelwood gathering and the illegal cutting of trees. Intense, uncontrolled hunting further impacts on the biodiversity of the park. As a result, for example, the Philippine Deer, which used to abound in the area, is now so rare that it is seldom caught. Wild plant collectors also frequent the park, and commonly collected species include ground orchids Phagus sp., and two Mt Bulusan endemic plant species, Prenephrium bulusantum (a fern) and Schefflera bulusanicum.
Additional information
References: Alcala (1986); Alcala and Brown (1998); DENR (IPAP); Diesmos and Altamirano (1995); Peñas et al. (1996).