Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Mt Piagayungan lies to the southeast of Lake Lanao (PH097) and immediately east of the Butig Mountains (PH099), on the borders between Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato and Maguindanao Provinces. It rises to 2,806 m, and still has extensive forests. Most of the forests on the southern slopes of Mt. Piagayungan are above 1,000 m, and therefore montane in type, and are not subject to substantial commercial logging. These forests are an important part of the Lake Lanao Watershed.
Several of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area were recorded on Mt Piagayungan during a collecting expedition in 1970, but much remains to be learned about the avifauna of these mountains. The birds recorded in 1970 included both montane and lowland forest species. The montane birds are probably secure in the extensive areas of forest that remain around the mountain peaks. The lowland forest birds, such as Silvery Kingfisher, must have declined dramatically there as a result of the wholesale loss of forest from the slopes below 1,000 m because of commercial logging. The extensive forests in this IBA are probably important for the conservation of Philippine Eagle.
Mt Piagayungan lies to the southeast of Lake Lanao (PH097) and immediately east of the Butig Mountains (PH099), on the borders between Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato and Maguindanao Provinces. It rises to 2,806 m, and still has extensive forests. Most of the forests on the southern slopes of Mt. Piagayungan are above 1,000 m, and therefore montane in type, and are not subject to substantial commercial logging. These forests are an important part of the Lake Lanao Watershed.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The northern slopes of Mt Piagayungan are part of the Lake Lanao Watershed. The major problems within the watershed include land claims by migrants, cattle ranchers and rebel returnees. Other problems include illegal logging, small-scale mining and quarrying activities and soil erosion. The continuing use of tractor logging and cable skidding has badly degraded the remaining forests in the slopes of Mt Piagayungan. Migration from the lowlands has also resulted in the conversion of logged-over forests to farms, and, as the farming techniques used are unsustainable, more and more forests are converted to farmland in order to maintain production.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Following the creation of the Lake Lanao Watershed in 1992, the Lake Lanao Watershed Development Council was established to prepare a comprehensive protection and development plan. The Lake Lanao Watershed Development Program has been created to implement this 5-year development plan for Lake Lanao Watershed’s rehabilitation and protection. The Council has also proposed a Lake Lanao Watershed Research and Development Center.
Surveys are 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.
Part of this IBA is included in the Lake Lanao Watershed (185,640 ha), which was created by Proclamation No. 871 in February 1992.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mount Piagayungan (Philippines). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mount-piagayungan-iba-philippines on 23/12/2024.
