Mount Daguma (9803)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Mount Daguma
Central coordinates: Latitude: 6.6167, Longitude: 124.4667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 200 to 1898
Area of KBA (km2): 323.66635
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA is in eastern Sultan Kudarat Province, in the mountains to the west of Isulan. It includes a steep mountain ridge that runs from north-west to south-east, and forms a steep escarpment at the edge of the Alah River valley. A block of old growth forest is shown in this area on recent forest cover maps. Much of this forest must be montane, but there may be some lowland forest remaining on the lower slopes.
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: Some of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area have been recorded in the vicinity of this IBA, including the threatened Philippine Hawk-eagle. It is likely that several of these species have populations in the extensive forests that are reported to remain there.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: This IBA is in eastern Sultan Kudarat Province, in the mountains to the west of Isulan. It includes a steep mountain ridge that runs from north-west to south-east, and forms a steep escarpment at the edge of the Alah River valley. A block of old growth forest is shown in this area on recent forest cover maps. Much of this forest must be montane, but there may be some lowland forest remaining on the lower slopes.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 67 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: A company with a Timber Licence Agreement is actively (and legally) logging the forests of this IBA. Settlers are encroaching into the forest and converting it into permanent agriculture plots. Kaingins are found along the forest perimeter on the northern side of the range, which have cleared any buffer of secondary growth and brush. On the southern side, however, there is still a buffer area of second growth and brush, as the presence of insurgents has discouraged the entry of outsiders. However, the insurgents are reported to be carrying out harvesting operations themselves. Wildlife hunting, especially for birds, is prevalent. Although reforestation projects have been initiated, the trees chosen for reforestation are exotic species like gmelina, bagras and Acacia mangium, which are of limited value to the native wildlife or watershed protection.