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Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA is near the southwestern tip of Cebu Island, and includes Mt Kangbulagsing, a short distance inland from the town of Malabuyoc, Mt Lanaya, which is south of the town of Alegria, and probably also the Mt Matunog range, which appears to connect Mts. Kangbulagsing and Lanaya. These mountains reach c.600 m, and are characterised by steep ridges and cliffs, with patches of forest on karst limestone, which are mainly secondary, mixed with areas of scrub and bamboo.
The patches of forest on Mt Kangbulagsing were estimated in 1995 to cover c.300 ha in total. Most of the forest blocks there are relatively open with dense undergrowth of saplings, woody vines, palms, dracaneas, etc. There are some large trees of up to 25 m, including a few remnant dipterocarps. Shorter trees are found on ridgetops amongst secondary growth, often gnarled and twisted with few leaves and thin branches due to the strong winds and dry conditions. These trees are periodically cut for local use and allowed to re-grow. The lower slopes are planted with agricultural crops, such as maize, bananas, root crops, papaya, fruit trees and coconuts. Some second growth trees, fruit trees and bamboo stands grew on the slopes and at the base of the mountain. Many large strangling figs (Ficus sp.) grew along the banks of the Looc River below the mountain.
Mt Lanaya is covered with secondary forest, apart from a dense patch of tall (over 25 m) lowland forest trees in the gulleys near the peak, which covers c.20 ha. Patches of agroforests and coconut plantation cover most of the lower slopes of the mountain, with some kaingins on the eastern slope near the peak. The mountain is surrounded by limestone hills covered with secondary forest and dense scrub and bamboo, similar to that found on Mt Kangbulagsing. These secondary habitats are bordered by agroforests and coconut plantations on the lower slopes, with some patches of forest trees on the steep cliffs and the peaks. There are hot springs of volcanic origin at the base of Mt Lanaya which are popular with local people and tourists. An “Eco-trail” has recently been established in Malabuyoc to encourage ecotourism.
This is one of the few areas of forest remaining in the Cebu Endemic Bird Area. A survey team in 1995 recorded two of the restricted-range species of the EBA on Mt Kangbulagsing, including the threatened Black Shama, which is endemic to Cebu. They also found five of the subspecies that are endemic to Cebu, Amethyst Brown-dove Phapitreron amethystina frontalis, which was previously believed to be extinct, Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala cebuensis, Elegant Tit Parus elegans visayanus, White-vented Whistler Pachycephala homeyeri major and Everett’s White-eye Zosterops everetti everetti. It is likely that further surveys will locate populations of more of the Cebu endemic birds, possibly including the Cebu Flowerpecker, as local people have reported the presence of a thorny vine called “Sampinit”, which is the favoured food plant of this species.
During the 1995 survey, totals of 69 bird species, 13 mammals and 13 amphibians and reptiles were recorded on Mt Kangbulagsing.
Non-bird biodiversity: During the 1995 survey, totals of 69 bird species, 13 mammals and 13 amphibians and reptiles were recorded on Mt Kangbulagsing.
This IBA is near the southwestern tip of Cebu Island, and includes Mt Kangbulagsing, a short distance inland from the town of Malabuyoc, Mt Lanaya, which is south of the town of Alegria, and probably also the Mt Matunog range, which appears to connect Mts. Kangbulagsing and Lanaya. These mountains reach c.600 m, and are characterised by steep ridges and cliffs, with patches of forest on karst limestone, which are mainly secondary, mixed with areas of scrub and bamboo.
The patches of forest on Mt Kangbulagsing were estimated in 1995 to cover c.300 ha in total. Most of the forest blocks there are relatively open with dense undergrowth of saplings, woody vines, palms, dracaneas, etc. There are some large trees of up to 25 m, including a few remnant dipterocarps. Shorter trees are found on ridgetops amongst secondary growth, often gnarled and twisted with few leaves and thin branches due to the strong winds and dry conditions. These trees are periodically cut for local use and allowed to re-grow. The lower slopes are planted with agricultural crops, such as maize, bananas, root crops, papaya, fruit trees and coconuts. Some second growth trees, fruit trees and bamboo stands grew on the slopes and at the base of the mountain. Many large strangling figs (Ficus sp.) grew along the banks of the Looc River below the mountain.
Mt Lanaya is covered with secondary forest, apart from a dense patch of tall (over 25 m) lowland forest trees in the gulleys near the peak, which covers c.20 ha. Patches of agroforests and coconut plantation cover most of the lower slopes of the mountain, with some kaingins on the eastern slope near the peak. The mountain is surrounded by limestone hills covered with secondary forest and dense scrub and bamboo, similar to that found on Mt Kangbulagsing. These secondary habitats are bordered by agroforests and coconut plantations on the lower slopes, with some patches of forest trees on the steep cliffs and the peaks. There are hot springs of volcanic origin at the base of Mt Lanaya which are popular with local people and tourists. An “Eco-trail” has recently been established in Malabuyoc to encourage ecotourism.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Local people report that the condition of the forest on Mt Kangbulagsing and Mt Lanaya has remained unchanged for many years. None of the forest there is suitable for logging, and the steep slopes and inhospitable conditions have probably provided natural protection. However, some kaingin and clearance for permanent agriculture was recently observed on the lower slopes and ridges. Firewood collection was also frequently observed, and there was evidence of hunting of birds and bats.
Much of the forest in this IBA is in or near to the proposed quarry site and the cement factory that operate on the lower slopes of Mt Kangbulagsing. There is a need to designate a buffer zone around both of these, to prevent soil erosion and protect the remaining fragments of forest.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
It has been recommended that the local government and/or DENR should take measures to protect the remaining fragments of forest in this IBA. These could include the hiring of local people as forest guards to patrol the site and the initiation of an educational campaign to raise local awareness of the importance of the forests for biodiversity conservation. Reforestation projects have also been recommended there.
The South Western Cement Corporation (SWCC) has purchased 842 ha for a proposed Cement Quarry site, and it is committed to setting aside an area (c.10 ha) for the protection of Cebu’s endemic wildlife, such as the Black Shama. It has allotted some funding to study (in collaboration with DENR) the long-term effects of the project on endemic, rare and threatened wildlife species. A survey supported by SWCC on the population status of the Black Shama in the project site was conducted in 1996, and SWCC plans to regularly monitor the area and to determine which areas need to be set aside as a buffer zone.
Mt Kangbulagsing and Mt Lanaya are regarded as watershed reserves and therefore should have protected area status by virtue of a recent Executive Order on watershed protection issued by President Joseph Estrada.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mount Kangbulagsing and Mount Lanaya (Philippines). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mount-kangbulagsing-and-mount-lanaya-iba-philippines on 23/12/2024.
