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Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Mt Cagua lies at the northern end of the Sierra Madre mountains, in north-east Cagayan Province. The IBA includes two large blocks of old growth forest shown on recent forest cover maps, and extends south to the Mt Tabuan area, near Twin Peaks, north of Mt Cetaceo (PH014). Mt Cagua rises to just over 1,000 m, so the forest is mainly lowland in type, with limited areas of montane forest around the highest peaks.
Many of the threatened and restricted-range birds of the Luzon Endemic Bird Area have been recorded in or near to this IBA, including mainly lowland forest specialists. Many of these are known there only by historical records, including some from Cape Engaño at the northern extreme of the IBA. However, like other IBAs in the Sierra Madre, it is likely that the avifauna on Mt Cagua will prove to be similar to that of Northern Sierra Madre Nature Park (PH015). The relatively extensive forests in this IBA are likely to support significant numbers of Philippine Eagle. The record of the highly threatened Isabela Oriole is particularly notable.
Non-bird biodiversity: Baseline surveys of mammals and herpetofauna have not yet been conducted in the area. Populations of two northeast Luzon endemic rodents, the Sierra Madre Shrew-mouse Archboldomys musseri and the Northern Luzon Shrew-mouse Crunomys fallax have been recorded, and many other Luzon endemics may occur in the area.
Mt Cagua lies at the northern end of the Sierra Madre mountains, in north-east Cagayan Province. The IBA includes two large blocks of old growth forest shown on recent forest cover maps, and extends south to the Mt Tabuan area, near Twin Peaks, north of Mt Cetaceo (PH014). Mt Cagua rises to just over 1,000 m, so the forest is mainly lowland in type, with limited areas of montane forest around the highest peaks.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The susceptibility of this area to typhoons, and lack of access facilities have helped to minimize the threat from kaingin farming along the eastern slopes of Sierra Madre. However, timber-harvesting operations of various scales have been reported to be widespread along the whole length of the Pacific coastline.
There have been feasibility studies on building roads to enhance the accessibility of towns isolated by the Sierra Madre range. If roads were to be built there would be both direct and indirect impacts on the forest, and the area would be opened to settlers and further illegal tree cutting.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
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.
Not officially protected.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: North Eastern Cagayan Protected Landscape and Seascape (Philippines). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/north-eastern-cagayan-protected-landscape-and-seascape-iba-philippines on 23/12/2024.
