Busuanga Island (9748)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Busuanga Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.0833, Longitude: 120.0833
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 653
Area of KBA (km2): 946.92034
Protected area coverage (%): 97.80
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Busuanga (87,500 ha) is the largest island in the Calamian group, to the north of Palawan. There are two mountain ranges on the island, the Chinabayan and the Wayan ranges. It retains patches of open canopy broadleaf lowland forest, consisting of small to medium sized trees on poor soil, which are mostly found on ridges.
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 species of the Palawan Endemic Bird Area have been recorded on Busuanga in the past, including the threatened Blue-headed Racquet-tail and Palawan Hornbill, and a population of the threatened Philippine Cockatoo was recently reported to be present there. Non-bird biodiversity: This IBA supports many of the endemic mammals of Palawan region, including Palawan stink badger Mydaus marchei, Calamian hog-deer Axis calamianensis, Palawan tree shrew Tupaia palawanensis and Palawan flying fox Acerodon leucotis. Other Palawan-confined mammals in this IBA include bearded pig Sus barbatus, leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis, Palawan porcupine Hystrix pumila, and short-tailed mongoose Herpestes brachyurus. Marine animals recorded in the waters off this IBA include green turtle Chelonia mydas, hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata, Philippine crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis, estuarine crocodile C. porosus and bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus. The Philippine discoglossid frog Barbourula busuangensis, which is endemic to Palawan faunal region, has been recorded on this IBA.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Busuanga (87,500 ha) is the largest island in the Calamian group, to the north of Palawan. There are two mountain ranges on the island, the Chinabayan and the Wayan ranges. It retains patches of open canopy broadleaf lowland forest, consisting of small to medium sized trees on poor soil, which are mostly found on ridges.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 67 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The forests on Busuanga are not believed to be under serious threat of encroachment, apart from occasional cutting apparently for local use. However, an old carabao trail leading into the Chinabayan mountain range has been greatly widened and is now continually used, which may indicate increasing pressure on this area.
Additional information
References: Alcala and Brown (1998); Castañeda (1993).