Mount Hitding (9744)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Mount Hitding
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.7333, Longitude: 121.4667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 100 to 1000
Area of KBA (km2): 177.675
Protected area coverage (%): 23.54
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An area of forest lies inland from the road near to Bongabong, in the foothills below the eastern slopes of Mt Hitding. It was not visited during surveys in 1991, but when examined through binoculars from the road it appeared to be lowland forest. Very few signs of human encroachment were visible and the forest extended down to about 100 m altitude. Gradients were gentle on the lower slopes and forest extended to the mountain peak at about 1,000 m. There is thus a possibility that this is a surviving undisturbed forest extending from the lowlands to the mountain top.
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: Several of the threatened and restricted-range lowland forest species of the Mindoro Endemic Bird Area were collected in the Bongabong area in the past, with recent unconfirmed records of two of these species. If substantial areas of lowland forest are found to remain there, this IBA could prove to be one of the most important sites for the conservation of the highly threatened endemic lowland forest birds of Mindoro. The higher altitude forests on Mt Hitding could also support some of the endemic montane species. Non-bird biodiversity: This IBA is also likely to support some threatened mammals, including endemic subspecies of wild pigs.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: An area of forest lies inland from the road near to Bongabong, in the foothills below the eastern slopes of Mt Hitding. It was not visited during surveys in 1991, but when examined through binoculars from the road it appeared to be lowland forest. Very few signs of human encroachment were visible and the forest extended down to about 100 m altitude. Gradients were gentle on the lower slopes and forest extended to the mountain peak at about 1,000 m. There is thus a possibility that this is a surviving undisturbed forest extending from the lowlands to the mountain top.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 67 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Commercial logging operations within Oriental Mindoro have been stopped for quite some time, and the canopy of the logged-over areas appears to have already closed. However, these stands are seriously threatened by the continuing commercial extraction of timber and kaingin. The Oriental side of Mindoro usually has a buffer of open canopy second growth forest or brush between the open canopy forest and openlands.
Additional information
References: Diesmos and Pedregosa (1995); Dutson et al. (1992).