• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2001 baseline)
Mt Nacolod is in the south-eastern Leyte, and rises to 1,007 m. There are two significant areas of forest on the mountain, Buac Watershed Forest Reserve and Hinabian-Lawigan Watershed Reservation. Buac Watershed Forest Reserve has a flat to severely sloping terrain. A major portion (74%) of the area is forested, and the rest are kaingin and cultivated land (13%) and brushland (13%). It is a municipal watershed and is the source of water for surrounding towns. The Hinabian-Lawigan Watershed Reservation has c.454 ha of old growth forest, c.1,134 ha of second growth forest, c.544 ha of mossy forest, c.227 ha of brushland and c.2,177 ha of cultivated land. It is bordered to the east by agricultural land and coconut, abaca and rubber plantations. To the north, south and west are unclassified forests. A mini-hydroelectic plant has been put up in the area by the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) to provide electricity. An irrigation system by the NIA was also ¬erected to supply water to nearby farmlands.

Key biodiversity
Several of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area have been recorded in southern Leyte, and are likely to occur in the remaining forests on Mt Nacolod. These include the critically endangered Philippine Eagle, which has been recorded from near to the mountain. There is clearly a need for survey work, in particular to determine the importance of the forests on Mt Nacolod as part of the network of sites required for the conservation of the eagle.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mount Nacolod (Philippines). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mount-nacolod-iba-philippines on 22/11/2024.