Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA comprises the mountains of central Samar, which straddle the boundary between Samar and Eastern Samar Provinces. The highest peaks are Mt Cabalantian and Mt Capotoan, but they only reach a maximum altitude of 850 m. Extensive areas of both undisturbed and disturbed lowland dipterocarp forest are shown in this part of Samar on recent forest cover maps. Typical dipterocarp forest covers the relatively level areas between the hills, and molave-dipterocarp forest covers the steeper slopes of the hills and ridges. The highest peaks have vegetation approaching the mid-mountain type, but never become the typical mid-montane forest. There are also cleared areas covered with tall grasses and secondary growth.
Many of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area have been recorded in or near to the Mt Cabalantian-Mt Capotoan complex, mainly during a collecting expedition in 1957. These include all three species endemic to the Eastern Visayas, Samar Hornbill, Visayan Broadbill and Yellow-breasted Tailorbird. Some threatened species were found to be unusually abundant in this region, notably Silvery Kingfisher. There are recent records of Philippine Eagle from this IBA, and the relatively extensive forests which remain there are probably an important part of the network of sites required for the conservation of this critically endangered species.
This IBA comprises the mountains of central Samar, which straddle the boundary between Samar and Eastern Samar Provinces. The highest peaks are Mt Cabalantian and Mt Capotoan, but they only reach a maximum altitude of 850 m. Extensive areas of both undisturbed and disturbed lowland dipterocarp forest are shown in this part of Samar on recent forest cover maps. Typical dipterocarp forest covers the relatively level areas between the hills, and molave-dipterocarp forest covers the steeper slopes of the hills and ridges. The highest peaks have vegetation approaching the mid-mountain type, but never become the typical mid-montane forest. There are also cleared areas covered with tall grasses and secondary growth.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
There is presumably encroachment into the forests of this IBA by illegal occupants and the extraction of timber and other forest products, as elsewhere on Samar.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Surveys are critically required in this IBA, to investigate both the extent and quality of the remaining habitats and the current status of the threatened and restricted-range birds and other biodiversity.
Not officially protected.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mount Cabalantian - Mount Capoto-an complex (Philippines). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mount-cabalantian--mount-capoto-an-complex-iba-philippines on 23/12/2024.
