The 2005 Negros Rainforest Report
Added to website: 31 May 2006
New Report: The Biodiversity Of The Lower-Montane Forest Habitats Of The North Negros Forest Reserve, Negros Occidental, Philippines.
This report outlines the findings of the Rapid Biodiversity Assessment undertaken
by Coral Cay Conservation as part of the Negros Rainforest Conservation Project.
The research was conducted in the North Negros Forest Reserve, Negros Island,
the Philippines during the period of May-November 2005.
· Six Lower-montane forest habitats (below 1500m in altitude) were identified
within the reserve and surveyed. These range from low-lying forest edge areas,
secondary forest regrowth to mossy old growth. Fieldwork was halted at the old
growth survey site due to logging.
· Fieldwork focused on four main faunal groups: birds, bats, butterflies and non-volant
(non-flying) mammals.
· Bird species were recorded using MacKinnon List observations at the six survey
sites until logging began in the old growth region. Forty species were identified
from 23 families. Fifteen of the species recorded are endemic to the Philippines,
including the Tarictic Hornbill, which is classified as endangered.
· Mist-netting techniques were used to capture bats. In total, 76 individuals were
recorded. The majority of captures were Megachiropterans (fruit bats), with 5
species represented. Microchiropterans (insectivorous bats) were represented by 2
species. The critically endangered Philippine-tube nosed bat was recorded.
· A total of 347 butterflies were caught across the survey sites using hand nets on
transects through forest habitats. Three of the fifteen families were represented:
Pieridae, Nymphalidae and Satyridae. Four species are only found in the Negros-Panay
faunal region.
· Surveying of small, non-flying mammals suggests a high dominance of rodents
associated with disturbed forest habitats. However the extremely rare Visayan
Warty Pig and Philippine Spotted Deer were sighted during the period.
· The NRCP has continued to develop and expand the Environmental Education
Scheme with a scholarship programme for local students and counterparts, open
days for local school groups and on-going participatory events with local
stakeholders.
· Recommendations for future work include implementing an interactive
Geographical Information System for the local watershed. It is hoped information
on the biodiversity of the forest habitats will contribute to local natural resource
management plans (including protected area designation) for the region.
· Future work for the NRCP aims to build upon existing knowledge of the NNFR
and build up a long-term assessment of forest status and regeneration as well as
identify new sites for research.
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