Data Zone
Country/territory: Philippines
IBA Criteria met: A1, A2 (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria please click here
Area: 17,838 ha
| Most recent IBA monitoring assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | Threat score (pressure) | Condition score (state) | Action score (response) |
| 2013 | very high | not assessed | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring please click here | |||
Site description
The proposed Balbalasang-Balbalan National Park is composed of two mountain ranges with numerous creeks all draining towards the Saltan River, which divides the two ranges. It is characterized by high mountain ranges with steep slopes and rugged, rocky terrain. Mt Sapocoy, which is located on the western boundary of the park overlooking the Ilocos and Cagayan Valleys, is the highest peak at c.2,456 m. The lowest point in the park is at Balbalan in the eastern portion, with an elevation of c.700 m.
Key biodiversity
There is very little information available on the birds of the extensive forests that remain in and around this IBA, but they are likely to support many of the threatened and restricted-range birds of the Luzon Endemic Bird Area. The avifauna in the montane forests may prove to be comparable to that of Mt Pulog National Park (PH004) further south in the Cordillera Central.
Non-bird biodiversity: Some Luzon-endemic mammals, including the northern Luzon giant cloud rat Phloeomys pallidus, may be found on this IBA. The smooth-fingered narrow-mouthed frog Kaloula baleata kalingenses and the poorly-known endemic Luzon narrow-mouthed frog Kaloula rigida have been recorded there, as have two globally threatened butterflies, Papilio benguetanus and P. chikae, both restricted on the Cordillera mountains.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Balbalasang-Balbalan National Park and proposed extension. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 28/03/2023.
