By Jonah van Beijnen
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, May 7 (PNA) — The lush island province of Palawan (approximately 12,000 km2) is located in the southwest of the Philippines. Due to a relatively low population density, the island has been spared from major deforestation tragedies that are taking place in the rest of the Philippines, and approximately 40% of forest cover still remains in the province.
Palawan has received international recognition by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a Biosphere Reserve and it contains two World Heritage sites.
Despite such recognition, the island still remains relatively understudied and its forests are diminishing.
Puerto Princesa, the capital city of Palawan, contains one national park (Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park – 22,000 hectares) but approximately 60,000 hectares of pristine forest neighboring the park remains unprotected.
The center of this large forest is shaped by Cleopatra’s Needle (1,593 MASL), the highest peak of Puerto Princesa and surroundings. This area is a real biological gem, it is the last safe haven for countless endemic species, and it functions as an important corridor for species crossing the island.
A large part of the area represents the ancestral lands of four communities of indigenous peoples, including Cuyunon, Tagbanua, and the last 150 members of the Batak.
Their last refuge is the forests of Cleopatra’s Needle—these indigenous communities depend on the forest resources for their livelihood. To protect the cultural and traditional practices of these communities, it is critical that the area is preserved.
The area serves furthermore as the largest watershed in the municipality and provides water for approximately 30% of the residents in the city.
For these reasons, the Centre for Sustainability (CS) in collaboration with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) and its other partners, work hand in hand with the indigenous communities of the area to preserve a large portion of the forests of Cleopatra’s Needle (35,000 hectares) through the creation of the Cleopatra’s Needle Forest Reserve as a “critical habitat” under PCSD Resolution No. 13-481 as an amendment to Section 50 of Administrative Order No. 12, Series of 2011.
The project is supported by Rainforest Trust, Global Wildlife conservation, Amphibian Survival Alliance, German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Otterfonds Foundation and Fauna and Flora International.
As part of this project, a biodiversity survey has been conducted. The Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) was executed by a team of scientists to assess the biodiversity of the different species groups present in the area.
The program included a large group expedition held between December 1 to 14, 2014, as well as a series of smaller research trips, which were conducted between December 2014 to February 2015.
Herpetofauna
Encountered during the research and study were 12 amphibian and 14 reptile species. Despite that, the sampling period was somewhat limited in scope; new data nonetheless provides an invaluable insight into a diverse and healthy herpetological community inhabiting Cleopatra’s Needle. Several highly significant discoveries resulted, including substantial new range extensions and geographical records.
Under Professor Brown, the herpetofauna team observed the Palawan Toadlet (Pelophryne albotaeniata), which before our research program at Cleopatra’s Needle began, had only been observed once prior by scientists in the last 40+ years (2007, Mount Mantalingajan – Rizal, southern Palawan).
This exciting observation redefines and widens the geographical range previously assigned to the Pelophryne albotaeniata.
The Centre for Sustainability is also very pleased to announce the finding of the Malatgan River Caecilian (Ichthyophis weberi) for the first time in over 50 years.
This species was originally discovered and described in 1920 and prior to this biodiversity assessment, known from 12 specimens only.
After its initial discovery the species was never seen again, and its taxonomic status was in doubt. Originally deposited at the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), the holotype for this species was lost during the Second World War when the museum was bombed.
During the assessment, the team found one specimen of the species thereby, officially confirming its existence “a wonderful and momentous herpetological discovery for Palawan.”
Doctor Arvin Diesmos, in collaboration with Rafe Brown will be publishing a separate research note on their findings.
Several hard-to-identify tree frogs of the genus Philautus were collected, including DNA samples—further research is needed for this complex species.
Mammals
The CS is also pleased to share that during the biodiversity survey, majority of small endemic mammals were observed in abundance, indicating a highly diverse and intact mammal community around Cleopatra’s Needle.
Twelve mammal species belonging to 10 families in 7 order taxa were recorded, using a range of techniques. These include pitfall traps, bated live cage trapping, mist net traps, camera trapping, opportunistic visual encounters, hand grabbing, and other indigenous methods of capture employed by the local peoples who have inhabited the area since time immemorial.
Six of these species are endemic to the province of Palawan – the Palawan Stink Badger (Mydaus marchei), the Palawan Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes nigripes), the Palawan Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse (Chiropodomys calamianensis), the Palawan Spiny Rat (Maxomys panglima), the Palawan Tree Shrew (Tupaia palawanensis), and the Palawan Shrew (Crocidura palawanensis).\
Two species recorded have been categorized under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as Vulnerable: the Asian Small-Clawed Otter (Aonyx cinerea), and the Palawan Bearded Pig (Sus ahoenobarbus).
Indigenous hunters were also observed transporting live two Palawan Bearded Pigs having captured them using snare traps.
Other species also recorded include the Common Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis), Masked Palm Civet (Paguma larvata), Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis ssp. philippensis), and the Palawan Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis heaneyi).
Considering the number of endemic species to Palawan found on Cleopatra’s Needle during this brief assessment, our research program only further highlights the importance of this area as a safe haven for these unique species, and the clear need to protect it.
Crustaceans and Aquatic Insects
Eighty seven taxa of 43 or more families, have been identified from the samples.
Among the species with somewhat known ecological preferences, the following can be regarded as indicators for good habitat condition: Ancyronyx pseudopatrolus, A. montanus, Hydraena claudia, H. castanescens, H. jojoorculloi, Hydraena “sp. E” (this species is undescribed, but known to the investigators from a few other pristine collection sites), Aphelocheirus palawanensis, and Prosopistoma palawana.
The following recorded taxa are undescribed species: Geosesarma sp. (currently under scientific description by Manuel-Santos, Ng and Freitag), Graphelmis sp., Limnebius sp. and Hydraena sp. E (currently under scientific description by Gołębiewska and Freitag).
Odonata
The biodiversity assessment was conducted in December 2014, a typically dry period with limited rain in the area. Odonata activity, however, is most dynamic during the rainy season such that relatively few species were encountered. While few, the CS is pleased to share that of these species a high number recorded at Cleopatra’s Needle were endemic and/or threatened species.
Although some of the specimens are still being identified, two new species of dragonflies have already been confirmed and will be described later this year.
Additionally, it is believed that at least four new species of damselfly will be described after the collected specimens have been compared to existing museum collections.
Other notable observations include the presence of Neurobasis daviesi, one of the rarest and most beautiful damselflies endemic to Palawan. The species had not been observed since the 1960s. Also the first ever female of Stenagrion petermilleri was recorded.
Lastly, the elusive Phaenandrogomphus treadawayi was recorded, listed under the IUCN Red List as Near Threatened, only known from one location, 200 kilometers north of Cleopatra’s Needle. These findings serve to further highlight the value and importance of preserving Cleopatra’s Needle.
The descriptions of the newly found species will be published later this year.
Birds
Sixty five different bird species were found during the survey. While some of the endemic species recorded are IUCN Red Listed, these were found in relatively high abundance, including the Palawan Hornbill (Anthracoceros marchei) – Vulnerable, Palawan Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis) – Vulnerable, Palawan Tit (Parusa mabilis) – no listing, and Palawan Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis lemprieri).
Threatened, further strengthening the importance of protecting the area.
The bird expert who joined the expedition, Rommel Cruz, is a Palawan native and has scouted the whole island for over 15 years. He reported that this was the first location in the province, where he recorded all endemic bird species in one location, thus “demonstrating that Cleopatra’s Needle is indeed one of a kind, even for Palawan.”
Conclusion
This Biodiversity Assessment is the first of its kind in Cleopatra’s Needle. Even with the relatively limited research conducted during this brief period, the high number of endemic and threatened species already recorded, as well as the significant number of new species discovered/re-discovered, demonstrate the uniqueness of the area in terms of biodiversity—Cleopatra’s Needle is indeed one of the Philippines’ top biodiversity hotspots!
The launch of the Rapid Assessment Program has thus, laid down a basis and network from which local and international scientists can conduct greater and more in-depth biodiversity studies in Palawan, especially in the proposed Cleopatra’s Needle Forest Reserve.
The practical significance of these studies is invaluable: for increasing scientific knowledge about Palawan and the Philippines in general, for educating both local and international audiences about the value and importance of this area, and for conservation purposes of this pristine forest which will also serve the local people for many generations to come.
The unique forests of Cleopatra’s Needle represent one of the largest intact remaining primary forests of the Philippines – clearly then, government agencies from the local to national level, environmental and indigenous peoples NGOs, and the Philippine citizenry must work together to effectively protect this area in the name of Philippine biodiversity, of some of the country’s oldest indigenous peoples homelands, and of future generations of the Filipino people.
Jonah van Beijnen, the contributor of the story, is the vice-president and co-founder of the Centre for Sustainability. He studied Forest and Nature Conservation in the Netherlands and Sustainable Aquaculture in the United Kingdom. He has extensive experience from living and working as a biologist in the Philippines for more than eight years while working on sustainable development through livelihood and conservation projects. (PNA)