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296 flora, fauna species in Mindanao mountain ranges threatened by human activities

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Josiah Antonio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/cmu.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"><em>Photo from Central Mindanao University.</em></span><em> </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Close to 300 species of flora and fauna in the mountain ranges of Mindanao are threatened by human activities like land conversion and over-exploitation of natural resources, a group of researchers and scientists in a <a href="https://www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/quick-information-dispatch-qid-articles/conservation-research-initiatives-on-4-mountain-ranges-in-mindanao-support-the-generation-of-science-based-policies">report</a> by a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) council.</p><p>The number of species, many of which are endemic to the Philippines, highlights the need for better conservation efforts, including the declaration of conservation areas by local government units. </p><p>The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development said Mount Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental has the most threatened flora species with 209 while Mount Apo topped the list in threatened fauna species with 74.</p><p>The International Union for Conservation of Nature counts species that are Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable as threatened and considers them at high risk of human-caused extinction.</p><p>The project covered the Mount Hamiguitan Range, Mt. Pantaron Range, Mount Apo Range, and Mount Tago Range where 2,399 flora and 1,803 fauna species have been documented.</p><p>Of those species, 601 are endemic to Mindanao and the Philippines, with 8 flora and 3 fauna species mostly endemic to Mindanao. </p><p>The project is led by Victor Amoroso and co-project leader Fulgent Cortico, consisted members from Central Mindanao University, the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Davao Oriental State University, and the National Museum of the Philippines.</p><p>Cortico said that human activities such as &quot;conversion of forest land to agricultural land, expansion of human settlements and infrastructure, mining activities, illegal logging, over-exploitation of resources, and the prevalence of invasive forest species&quot; have threatened the security of flora and fauna species in the mountain ranges.</p><p>He noted that Mount Pantaron and Mount Tago are not yet legally classified as protected areas making them &quot;a lot more vulnerable to exploitation from various human activities.&quot;</p><p>He said that there is &quot;a real need for us to protect and conserve these species because once these species are lost they’re gone forever; not only in Mindanao, not only in the Philippines, but worldwide.&quot;</p><div><strong>CONSERVATION AREA FOR PANTARON</strong></div><p>The team&#x27;s research led to the classification of Mount Pantaron as a Local Conservation Area (LCA) by the province of Bukidnon, DOST-PCAARRD said. </p><p>It said 20 researchers of the project were deputized by the environment department as enforcement officers to monitor the mountain range.</p><p>&quot;Efforts to develop local ecotourism were also initiated. The project started capacity-building seminars to add value to the current knowledge and practice of local communities. Trail signages were also erected to help inform tourists and to promote the local biodiversity,&quot; it added.</p><p>The project also established a nursery that would help reforest the area and provide additional livelihood to the community.</p><p>The declaration of a conservation area for Mount Malimumu is is also expected soon.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2479349"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script><div><br/></div>

<p>The number of species, many of which are endemic to the Philippines, highlights the need for better conservation efforts, including the declaration of conservation areas by local government units.</p>

The number of species, many of which are endemic to the Philippines, highlights the need for better conservation efforts, including the declaration of conservation areas by local government units.