Calauit Island (9747)
Philippines, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2006

National site name: Calauit Island

Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.3000, Longitude: 119.8667

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 236

Area of KBA (km²): 36.40353

Protected area coverage (%): 95.67

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Calauit is a small, low-lying island in the Calamian group, north of Palawan. It is a short distance from the much larger island of Busuanga (PH048). The natural vegetation there is lowland forest, with beach forest and mangroves along the coast. Much of the forest has now been replaced by plantations, secondary growth and open grassland.

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 species of the Palawan Endemic Bird Area have been recorded on Calauit, including the threatened Grey Imperial-pigeon, Blue-headed Racquet-tail and Palawan Hornbill, and there are unconfirmed reports of Philippine Cockatoo. Non-bird biodiversity: This IBA supports many mammals endemic to Palawan region, including the Calamian hog-deer Axis calamianensis, and Palawan stink badger Mydaus marchei. Other mammals in the area include binturong Arctictis binturong and bearded pig Sus barbatus. Calauit is remarkable for the populations of large African mammals that have been introduced there, including giraffes and zebras, which may pose threats to the native animals found in the area. Marine mammals recorded offshore from this IBA include bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus and minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata. Several Palawan endemic frogs have been recorded in this IBA, including the Everett’s tree frog Rhacophorus everetti and brown-striped tree frog Polypedates macrotis.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Calauit is a small, low-lying island in the Calamian group, north of Palawan. It is a short distance from the much larger island of Busuanga (PH048). The natural vegetation there is lowland forest, with beach forest and mangroves along the coast. Much of the forest has now been replaced by plantations, secondary growth and open grassland.

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial	33
Forest	67

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats to the habitats on Calauit include cutting of timber, agricultural expansion, burning of vegetation and the collection of forest product. Exploitation of birds is also reported.

Additional information