Data Zone
Country/territory: Philippines
IBA criteria met: A1, A2 (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 40,000 ha
Site description (2001 baseline)
This IBA includes an area of hills in the centre of the Zamboanga Peninsula of western Mindanao, c.90 km to the north of Zamboanga City. Most of the land there is relatively low-lying, just a few hundred metres above sea level, but one peak reaches over 1,000 m. Recent forest cover maps show several substantial areas of forest in this area, and CENRO-Ipil reports that the forest covers a huge area there and starts from within 5 km of the highway. Much of this forest must be lowland in type, with some areas of montane forest around the highest peaks.
Key biodiversity
The avifauna of the Lituban-Quipit watersheds is virtually unknown, although there is a record of the critically endangered Philippine Eagle from near to the IBA. The extensive forests there, both lowland and montane, could support an important population of the eagle, and of many of the other threatened and restricted-range species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area. They could prove to be one of the most important sites for the conservation of lowland birds in the EBA.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lituban-Quipit Watershed (Philippines). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lituban-quipit-watershed-iba-philippines on 22/11/2024.