Hotspot of Hope
Added to website: 19 July 2003
Terrestrial Science Co-ordinator, Craig Turner, takes a look at the success of the Negros Rainforest Conservation Project.
The Philippines currently has one of the largest numbers of threatened, restricted range bird species in the world. Recent research has discovered a high diversity of these species supported in an isolated forest patch on Negros Island. Enter CCC’s NRCP…
Species inventory
CCC’s research has revealed an extremely high number of forest-dependent and endemic species within just a 1000 hectare forested watershed area. With 137 species of bird recorded, it is the first detailed inventory ever to be completed of the region and the first published account of the presence of several species in the NNFR (North Negros Forest Reserve). The total inventory represents 20% of the bird species known to occur in the Philippines. Approximately 65% of all species (and sub-species) recorded were Philippine endemics. The Visayan Tarictic Hornbill (Penelopides panini panini) for example, is found on just five islands, and is one of seven IUCN Red Listed species recorded in the reserve.
The forest’s future
The NNFR is one of the last significant areas of moist tropical forest in the Negros-Panay Faunal Region of the central Philippines and is recognised by BirdLife International as part of a key Endemic Bird Area. As the majority of this region has been almost totally deforested, these remnants are vital for endemic biodiversity. Our latest findings highlight the conservation importance of the NNFR and we are now working in partnership with a local NGO, the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation Inc, in order to develop integrated and holistic conservation approaches for the forest reserve. Many thanks to all Volunteers and scientists whose dedication has helped achieve these crucial results.
