Sibutu and Tumindao Islands (9817)
Philippines, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Sibutu and Tumindao Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 4.7667, Longitude: 119.4833
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 131
Area of KBA (km2): 1008.72869
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Sibutu and Tumindao Islands lie to the south-east of Tawi-tawi Island, at the south-eastern end of the Sulu archipelago. Sibutu has much secondary forest, and forest is also reported to remain on Tumindao.
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: Several of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Sulu archipelago Endemic Bird Area have been recorded on Sibutu and Tumindao, but there is little recent information about their status there. It is likely that forests on these islands still support populations of some of these birds.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Sibutu and Tumindao Islands lie to the south-east of Tawi-tawi Island, at the south-eastern end of the Sulu archipelago. Sibutu has much secondary forest, and forest is also reported to remain on Tumindao.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 | |
| Forest | 67 |