Calituban and Tahong-tahong Islands (Talibon group) (9779)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Calituban and Tahong-tahong Islands (Talibon group)
Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.2500, Longitude: 124.2500
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 256.43286
Protected area coverage (%): 30.67
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The tiny islets of Mahaba, Calituban, Banacon, Tahong-tahong and Bubuajan are in the Camotes Sea, a few kilometres off the north coast of Bohol, across the Bohol Strait from Olango Island (PH069). There are intertidal mudflats and tidal lagoons around the islands, and large areas of mangroves that were recently reported to be in good condition. The main economic activity in this area is fishing.
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: The concentration of 635 Chinese Egrets in this IBA in 1991 represented c.25% of the estimated global population of this threatened species. There is presumably some interchange of birds of this species between this IBA and nearby Olango Island (PH069) and Mactan, Kalawisan and Cansaga Bays (PH070). Together, these three IBAs support what is probably the most important non-breeding population of this species in the world. However, it is likely that some of the other islands around the Camotes Sea and Bohol Strait also have important feeding and roosting areas for Chinese Egrets, and these also need to be protected. This IBA is likely to support non-breeding concentrations of some other waterbirds.
Delineation rationale: 2008: site area has been extended from 12 ha (2001 KBA) to 25,643 ha (2006 KBA).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The tiny islets of Mahaba, Calituban, Banacon, Tahong-tahong and Bubuajan are in the Camotes Sea, a few kilometres off the north coast of Bohol, across the Bohol Strait from Olango Island (PH069). There are intertidal mudflats and tidal lagoons around the islands, and large areas of mangroves that were recently reported to be in good condition. The main economic activity in this area is fishing.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 29 | |
| Marine Neritic | 29 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 14 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 29 |
Additional information
References: Custodio (1996).