Butig mountains (9799)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Butig mountains
Central coordinates: Latitude: 7.6500, Longitude: 124.3333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 2320
Area of KBA (km2): 318.31821
Protected area coverage (%): 24.59
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Butig Mountains lie to the south of Lake Lanao (PH097) in Lanao del Sur Province. The range extends eastwards to meet Mt Piagayungan (PH098). Several peaks in the Butig mountains reach 2,000 m, and the highest is 2,320 m. Some areas of old growth forest are mapped in this IBA on recent forest cover maps. It is likely that most of this is montane, but there are also some areas of lowland forest such as Lake Butig National Park (at c.500 m in the east of the mountains), which is reported to be surrounded by thick commercial forest. These forests are an important part of the Lake Lanao Watershed.
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 threatened Philippine Eagle and Philippine Hawk-eagle have both been recorded recently on Mt Butig. Extensive areas of both lowland and montane forest are reported to remain there, and it is likely to prove to support populations of many of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area and endemic Mindanao mammals.
Delineation rationale: 02/2008: following IBA/KBA crosswalk, two 2001 IBAs -- Mount Piagayungan (SitRecID 9798) and Butig mountains (SitRecID 9799) -- have been merged to form the 2006 KBA Mount Piagayungan and Butig Mountains (SitRecID 22335).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The Butig Mountains lie to the south of Lake Lanao (PH097) in Lanao del Sur Province. The range extends eastwards to meet Mt Piagayungan (PH098). Several peaks in the Butig mountains reach 2,000 m, and the highest is 2,320 m. Some areas of old growth forest are mapped in this IBA on recent forest cover maps. It is likely that most of this is montane, but there are also some areas of lowland forest such as Lake Butig National Park (at c.500 m in the east of the mountains), which is reported to be surrounded by thick commercial forest. These forests are an important part of the Lake Lanao Watershed.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 | |
| Forest | 67 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The northern slopes of the Butig Mountains are part of the Lake Lanao Watershed. The major problems within the watershed include land claims by migrants, cattle ranchers and rebel returnees. Other problems include illegal logging, small-scale mining and quarrying activities and soil erosion. However, peace and order problems are reported to be limiting encroachment into the forests for kaingin.