San Vicente - Taytay - Roxas forests (9751)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: San Vicente - Taytay - Roxas forests
Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.7667, Longitude: 119.3333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 701
Area of KBA (km2): 1532.06175
Protected area coverage (%): 99.84
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Several large blocks of old growth forest are shown on recent forest cover maps between the towns of San Vicente, Taytay and Roxas, in northern Palawan. Much of this area is low-lying, with the hills reaching a maximum altitude of only 701 m, so all of these are likely to be lowland forests.
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)
Additional biodiversity: The birds of this area are generally poorly known, but there are records of several of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Palawan Endemic Bird Area, including the threatened Palawan Peacock-pheasant, Philippine Cockatoo, Blue-headed Racquet-tail and Palawan Hornbill. The extensive lowland forests in this IBA are likely to support significant populations of these and other threatened and restricted-range species.
Delineation rationale: 02/2008: following IBA/KBA crosswalk, the 2001 IBA San Vicente - Taytay - Roxas forests (SitRecID 9751) has been split to form three 2006 KBAs: Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape (SitRecID 22331), San Vicente - Roxas Forests (SitRecID 22332) and Lake Manguao (SitRecID 22342).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Several large blocks of old growth forest are shown on recent forest cover maps between the towns of San Vicente, Taytay and Roxas, in northern Palawan. Much of this area is low-lying, with the hills reaching a maximum altitude of only 701 m, so all of these are likely to be lowland forests.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 67 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The areas logged on Palawan are relatively recent, and the majority of the forest within the closed canopy line is primary. Small-scale timber extraction and well-organised illegal commercial logging operations are hastening the depletion of the forest cover on the island.
Additional information
References: Castañeda (1993).