PH020
Mounts Irid-Angilo and Binuang This is an IBA in Danger! 


Site description (2001 baseline):

Site location and context
Mt Irid and Mt Angilo are located on the boundaries between the provinces of Bulacan, Quezon and Rizal, about 40 km to the north-east of Metro Manila, in the southern Sierra Madre mountains. Despite the close proximity to the city, there are very few roads into these rugged mountains, and they are sparsely populated. An extensive stand of what appeared to be old growth dipterocarp forest was located there (above 400 m) during a recent forest mapping survey (SOURCE?). Mt Irid rises to 1,448 m and Mt Angilo to 1,315 m, so there must be areas of montane forest around their peaks, but there are also likely to be substantial areas of lowland forest on the slopes.

Key biodiversity
This IBA is virtually unknown ornithologically, although there is an old record of Philippine Eagle near its western boundary. The extensive lowland and montane forests which are reported to remain there could prove to be important for the eagle, and to support populations of many of the other threatened and restricted-range birds of the Luzon Endemic Bird Area. The avifauna could prove to be similar to that of nearby Angat Dam (PH019) and the IBAs further north in the Sierra Madre.

Non-bird biodiversity: No mammal and herpetofaunal surveys have yet been conducted in this IBA.



Habitat and land use
Mt Irid and Mt Angilo are located on the boundaries between the provinces of Bulacan, Quezon and Rizal, about 40 km to the north-east of Metro Manila, in the southern Sierra Madre mountains. Despite the close proximity to the city, there are very few roads into these rugged mountains, and they are sparsely populated. An extensive stand of what appeared to be old growth dipterocarp forest was located there (above 400 m) during a recent forest mapping survey (SOURCE?). Mt Irid rises to 1,448 m and Mt Angilo to 1,315 m, so there must be areas of montane forest around their peaks, but there are also likely to be substantial areas of lowland forest on the slopes. There may be potential for educational and recreational use of this area by the people of Manila, although development of any new roads or other infrastructure would need to be carefully planned.

Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
No serious threats to the forests of this IBA were observed during a recent forest mapping survey. However, ground-based surveys are required to confirm the extent and condition of the forests of this IBA, and to collect data on their biodiversity.

Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
There may be potential for educational and recreational use of this area by the people of Manila, although development of any new roads or other infrastructure would need to be carefully planned.

Protected areas
Not officially protected.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mounts Irid-Angilo and Binuang (Philippines). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mounts-irid-angilo-and-binuang-iba-philippines on 23/12/2024.