Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA is in eastern Sultan Kudarat Province, in the mountains to the west of Isulan. It includes a steep mountain ridge that runs from north-west to south-east, and forms a steep escarpment at the edge of the Alah River valley. A block of old growth forest is shown in this area on recent forest cover maps. Much of this forest must be montane, but there may be some lowland forest remaining on the lower slopes.
Some of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area have been recorded in the vicinity of this IBA, including the threatened Philippine Hawk-eagle. It is likely that several of these species have populations in the extensive forests that are reported to remain there.
This IBA is in eastern Sultan Kudarat Province, in the mountains to the west of Isulan. It includes a steep mountain ridge that runs from north-west to south-east, and forms a steep escarpment at the edge of the Alah River valley. A block of old growth forest is shown in this area on recent forest cover maps. Much of this forest must be montane, but there may be some lowland forest remaining on the lower slopes.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
A company with a Timber Licence Agreement is actively (and legally) logging the forests of this IBA. Settlers are encroaching into the forest and converting it into permanent agriculture plots. Kaingins are found along the forest perimeter on the northern side of the range, which have cleared any buffer of secondary growth and brush. On the southern side, however, there is still a buffer area of second growth and brush, as the presence of insurgents has discouraged the entry of outsiders. However, the insurgents are reported to be carrying out harvesting operations themselves. Wildlife hunting, especially for birds, is prevalent.
Although reforestation projects have been initiated, the trees chosen for reforestation are exotic species like gmelina, bagras and Acacia mangium, which are of limited value to the native wildlife or watershed protection.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
This site is proposed as a Natural Biotic Area under the NIPAS, but a management plan has not yet been drafted for it.
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.
Part of this IBA has been proposed as a Natural Biotic Area under the NIPAS. It would cover 3,000 ha with the coordinates: 6o33’ to 6o41’N and 124o25’ to 124o31’E.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mount Daguma (Philippines). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mount-daguma-iba-philippines on 23/12/2024.
