Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The Butig Mountains lie to the south of Lake Lanao (PH097) in Lanao del Sur Province. The range extends eastwards to meet Mt Piagayungan (PH098). Several peaks in the Butig mountains reach 2,000 m, and the highest is 2,320 m. Some areas of old growth forest are mapped in this IBA on recent forest cover maps. It is likely that most of this is montane, but there are also some areas of lowland forest such as Lake Butig National Park (at c.500 m in the east of the mountains), which is reported to be surrounded by thick commercial forest. These forests are an important part of the Lake Lanao Watershed.
The threatened Philippine Eagle and Philippine Hawk-eagle have both been recorded recently on Mt Butig. Extensive areas of both lowland and montane forest are reported to remain there, and it is likely to prove to support populations of many of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area and endemic Mindanao mammals.
The Butig Mountains lie to the south of Lake Lanao (PH097) in Lanao del Sur Province. The range extends eastwards to meet Mt Piagayungan (PH098). Several peaks in the Butig mountains reach 2,000 m, and the highest is 2,320 m. Some areas of old growth forest are mapped in this IBA on recent forest cover maps. It is likely that most of this is montane, but there are also some areas of lowland forest such as Lake Butig National Park (at c.500 m in the east of the mountains), which is reported to be surrounded by thick commercial forest. These forests are an important part of the Lake Lanao Watershed.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The northern slopes of the Butig Mountains are part of the Lake Lanao Watershed. The major problems within the watershed include land claims by migrants, cattle ranchers and rebel returnees. Other problems include illegal logging, small-scale mining and quarrying activities and soil erosion. However, peace and order problems are reported to be limiting encroachment into the forests for kaingin.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Following the creation of the Lake Lanao Watershed in 1992, the Lake Lanao Watershed Development Council was established to prepare a comprehensive protection and development plan. The Lake Lanao Watershed Development Program has been created to implement this 5-year development plan for Lake Lanao Watershed’s rehabilitation and protection. The Council has also proposed a Lake Lanao Watershed Research and Development Center.
Surveys are required in this IBA, to investigate both the extent and quality of the remaining habitats, and whether it supports important populations of threatened and restricted-range birds and other biodiversity.
The small Lake Butig National Park (c.68 ha), which lies within the Butig Mountains IBA, was declared by Republic Act 4190 on 5 May 1965. Part of this IBA is included in the Lake Lanao Watershed (185,640 ha), which was created by Proclamation No. 871 in February 1992.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Butig mountains (Philippines). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/butig-mountains-iba-philippines on 22/11/2024.
