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Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Busuanga (87,500 ha) is the largest island in the Calamian group, to the north of Palawan. There are two mountain ranges on the island, the Chinabayan and the Wayan ranges. It retains patches of open canopy broadleaf lowland forest, consisting of small to medium sized trees on poor soil, which are mostly found on ridges.
Several of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Palawan Endemic Bird Area have been recorded on Busuanga in the past, including the threatened Blue-headed Racquet-tail and Palawan Hornbill, and a population of the threatened Philippine Cockatoo was recently reported to be present there.
Non-bird biodiversity: This IBA supports many of the endemic mammals of Palawan region, including Palawan stink badger Mydaus marchei, Calamian hog-deer Axis calamianensis, Palawan tree shrew Tupaia palawanensis and Palawan flying fox Acerodon leucotis. Other Palawan-confined mammals in this IBA include bearded pig Sus barbatus, leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis, Palawan porcupine Hystrix pumila, and short-tailed mongoose Herpestes brachyurus. Marine animals recorded in the waters off this IBA include green turtle Chelonia mydas, hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata, Philippine crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis, estuarine crocodile C. porosus and bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus.
The Philippine discoglossid frog Barbourula busuangensis, which is endemic to Palawan faunal region, has been recorded on this IBA.
Busuanga (87,500 ha) is the largest island in the Calamian group, to the north of Palawan. There are two mountain ranges on the island, the Chinabayan and the Wayan ranges. It retains patches of open canopy broadleaf lowland forest, consisting of small to medium sized trees on poor soil, which are mostly found on ridges.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The forests on Busuanga are not believed to be under serious threat of encroachment, apart from occasional cutting apparently for local use. However, an old carabao trail leading into the Chinabayan mountain range has been greatly widened and is now continually used, which may indicate increasing pressure on this area.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
There is a need to assess the current status of the habitats at this site, and to determine whether it still supports populations of any of the threatened and restricted-range species that formerly occurred there. The University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) is now conducting faunal surveys in Chinabayan River as part of the students’ wildlife practicum.
Not officially protected but part of this IBA was proclaimed as a Marine Reserve / Tourist Zone in 1978 by Proc. No. 1801.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Busuanga Island (Philippines). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/busuanga-island-iba-philippines on 22/11/2024.
