Kalatungan mountains (9795)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Kalatungan mountains
Central coordinates: Latitude: 7.9000, Longitude: 124.8333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1064 to 2824
Area of KBA (km2): 357.61962
Protected area coverage (%): 62.14
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Kalatungan Mountain range lies to the south of the Mt Kitanglad range (PH094). Mt Kalatungan is one of the highest mountains in the Philippines, reaching 2,824 m. The forests in the Kalatungan Mountains include limited areas of lowland residual evergreen forest at c.1,000 m, extensive areas of lower montane forest, and upper montane (mossy) forest from c.2,500 m up to the peaks. Old growth forest is estimated to cover c.14,911 ha, brushland or open-canopy forest covers c.2,130 ha, and grassland (parang) covers c.3,295 ha. There are numerous rivers and waterfalls, a lake and small wetland area, cliffs, caves and rock formations that also provide habitats for wildlife. The indigenous Manobo and Talaandig tribes (generally called the Bukidnons) live in the forest. They consider the forests holy and use them as a burial ground. These tribes live in and depend on the forest for food and medicine, and only hunt in certain seasons. A mini-hydroelectric power plant at Camp 1 in Maramag, Bukidnon provides power to Central and Southern Bukidnon.
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 threatened Philippine Eagle and Philippine Hawk-eagle have both been recorded recently in the Kalatungan Mountains. Extensive areas of montane forest remain there, and the avifauna may prove to be similar to that in the nearby Mt Kitanglad range (PH094), with populations of many of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area. Non-bird biodiversity: Small populations of the endangered flying fox Acerodon jubatus, Mindanao Pygmy Fruit Bat Alionycteris paucidentata, which is endemic to this IBA and Mt Kitanglad, Philippine Warty Pig Sus philippinensis and Philippine Brown Deer Cervus mariannus survive in this IBA. Five dominant endemic tree species are present, Katmon Dillenia philippinensis, White Lauan Shorea contorta, Red Lauan Shorea negrosensis, Bagtikan Parashorea malaanonan and Bikal Baboi Schizotachyum dielsianum. The highly threatened Almaciga sp., the collection and cutting of which is banned, can be found in the forest.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The Kalatungan Mountain range lies to the south of the Mt Kitanglad range (PH094). Mt Kalatungan is one of the highest mountains in the Philippines, reaching 2,824 m. The forests in the Kalatungan Mountains include limited areas of lowland residual evergreen forest at c.1,000 m, extensive areas of lower montane forest, and upper montane (mossy) forest from c.2,500 m up to the peaks. Old growth forest is estimated to cover c.14,911 ha, brushland or open-canopy forest covers c.2,130 ha, and grassland (parang) covers c.3,295 ha. There are numerous rivers and waterfalls, a lake and small wetland area, cliffs, caves and rock formations that also provide habitats for wildlife. The indigenous Manobo and Talaandig tribes (generally called the Bukidnons) live in the forest. They consider the forests holy and use them as a burial ground. These tribes live in and depend on the forest for food and medicine, and only hunt in certain seasons. A mini-hydroelectric power plant at Camp 1 in Maramag, Bukidnon provides power to Central and Southern Bukidnon.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 67 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Pressures on the habitats and wildlife in the Kalatungan Mountains include kaingin, forest fires, and the exploitation of forest products (e.g. rattan) and unregulated wildlife hunting. The most destructive of these is the conversion of forest into agricultural land and the introduction of cash crops. In addition to the ethnic Manobo and Talaandig tribes, Boholanos and Cebuanos from the Visayas have settled into the area by renting or buying land.
Additional information
References: Haribon Foundation (1998)