PH117
Sibutu and Tumindao Islands


Site description (2001 baseline):

Site location and context
Sibutu and Tumindao Islands lie to the south-east of Tawi-tawi Island, at the south-eastern end of the Sulu archipelago. Sibutu has much secondary forest, and forest is also reported to remain on Tumindao.

Key biodiversity
Several of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Sulu archipelago Endemic Bird Area have been recorded on Sibutu and Tumindao, but there is little recent information about their status there. It is likely that forests on these islands still support populations of some of these birds.

Habitat and land use
Sibutu and Tumindao Islands lie to the south-east of Tawi-tawi Island, at the south-eastern end of the Sulu archipelago. Sibutu has much secondary forest, and forest is also reported to remain on Tumindao.

Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
No conservation measures are known to be in place, but the possibility of establishing a protected area should be investigated. Surveys are required in this IBA, to establish both the extent and quality of the remaining habitats and the current status of the threatened and restricted-range birds and other biodiversity.

Protected areas
Not officially protected.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sibutu and Tumindao Islands (Philippines). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sibutu-and-tumindao-islands-iba-philippines on 22/11/2024.