By Marlet Bueno, March 2014
In 2013, a local monitoring group conducted its regular monitoring survey of the Mt. Siburan forests. Called IBAMS or Important Biodiversity Area Monitoring System, this specialized team includes an interesting batch of specialists: scientists, NGO’s, local government officials, and last but not least, staff members from a local prison.
Mt. Siburan is considered as the largest primary lowland forest in the whole island of Mindoro. Its protection is under the jurisdiction of the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. The forests of Mt. Siburan are deemed indispensable to the people of Sablayan due to copious reasons – they are the source of raw materials for the peoples’ livelihood, as well as potable water and water for irrigation. They also serve as a barrier to calamities such as flash flood and soil erosion. Mt. Siburan is also the sanctuary of a very rich biodiversity. Mindoro Hornbill (Penelopides mindorensis) and Mindoro Bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba platenae) which are both Mindoro-endemic species, are among the numerous wildlife that find refuge in Mt. Siburan. According to the indigenous peoples, the Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) also comes into its forests. Because of this, Mt. Siburan was recognized by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as one of the 117 Important Biodiversity Areas (IBA) in the Philippines.
In 2013, a local monitoring group implementing the Important Biodiversity Area Monitoring System (IBAMS) – developed with Birdlife International, conducted its regular monitoring survey of the Mt. Siburan forests. The IBAMS is an approach used by Haribon to determine state, pressure and response (SPR) in a certain IBA such as Mt. Siburan in the Municipality of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. The IBAMS team composed of local stakeholders has been organized to participate in the monitoring activities thereby transferring the skills to local communities. The IBAMS Team in Sablayan is composed of members from the SPPF, staff from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sablayan, representatives from a local NGO – Samahan ng Sablayeñong Mapagkalinga sa Kalikasan (SASAMAKA), Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) staff, Barangay Malisbong community representatives, as well as representatives from the organized Community Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) holders from Barangay Palbong. The IBAMS selects trigger species or indicator species, notably birds endemic to Mindoro, that are of significance and whose presence is related to the health of the forest. The two identified indicator bird species are the globally threatened, island-endemic Mindoro Bleeding Heart and Mindoro Hornbill.
The Mt. Siburan IBAMS Team had been re-activated and re-oriented; gathering of data followed. A total of 86 species of birds, mammals, and herpetofauna were recorded during the biophysical surveys, which indicates that Mt. Siburan still holds a significant expanse of biodiversity. However, it remains vulnerable to pressures from human activities which could lead to further deterioration of its remaining natural resources. In order to mitigate if not eradicate these threats, the IBAMS Team came up with various recommendations. Among these are policy reviews, systematic and regular monitoring, livelihood, and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns.
The IBAMS report was presented by representatives of the IBAMS Team during the Sangguniang Barangay session in Sablayan MLGU, and to the Provincial Council. The report, which provides an overview of the state, threats, and gauge on the outcome of conservation efforts in the Mt. Siburan IBA, was distributed to both MLGU and PLGU designated officials. It is gratifying to know that the local government is willing to support the recommendations of the IBAMS Team specifically on strict implementation of environmental laws.
The IBAMS is essential to track and respond to threats, understand status and trends of biodiversity and assess the effectiveness of conservation efforts. It is a standardized system that allows data to be compiled nationally and globally for international conservation advocacy and support. Hence, the support from the municipal and provincial local government is crucial in the conservation of biodiversity. The efforts of local peoples such as the IBAMS Team are as equally significant due to their initiative to participate in conservation activities. As long as there is a collective conservation effort from different stakeholders, there is no doubt that Mt. Siburan can be restored and will remain as an asylum of biodiversity in the generations to come.
