The Biodiversity of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park

Danao, Tedrein Eiveth F., Evangelista, Joaquin Angelo A., Fernando, Andrea Petina S.,
Florendo, Antonina Rose M.

Introduction:
The Philippines is known for its rich diversity and abundance of natural flora and fauna
occurring in its three major islands, all of which comprising unique ecosystems particular to
each area. In the north-eastern part of the country’s biggest island Luzon, trails the extensive
forests of the Northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range which is also known as the “backbone
of Luzon” for it acts as a natural shield against potential typhoons that frequent the country.
With the Sierra Madre being famous as not only the longest but also the richest in terms of
genetic, species and habitat diversity of its natural forest (Española, Collar, Mallari & Marsden,
2001), the mountain range requires the establishment of multiple government reservations
called Protected Areas to help preserve and maintain the balance of its unique wildlife.

The Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP) within the midsection of the Sierra
Madre Biogeographic Zone (SMBGZ) is the largest protected area in the Philippines,
encompassing a total land area of 359,486 hectares (888,310 acres) and spanning through
the province of Isabela in the Cagayan Valley of Region II. The park is eighty percent land and
twenty percent coastal area, corresponding geographically with the municipalities of Palanan,
Divilacan and Maconacon (Persoon & van Weerd, 2006).

The NSMNP was first declared as a wilderness reserve called the Palanan
Wilderness Area through the Letter of Instructions No. 917-A signed by President Ferdinand
Marcos in the year 1979. In 1997, the signing of Proclamation No. 978 by Former President
Fidel Ramos converted the reserve to a natural park. Eventually, the Republic Act 9125 of
2001, signed by Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was implemented for the sole
purpose of “Establishing the Northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range within the Province of
Isabela as a Protected Area and its peripheral areas as buffer zones, providing for its
management and for other purposes.” (Philippine Constitution 1987).

Today, the NSMNP is one of the major drivers of the Philippine economy. It includes
several farming areas, power plants, dams and watersheds that provide for Isabela and its
bordering provinces. An approximate of 23,000 locals comprised of Agtas, Dumagats,
Paranans and Kalingas residing in the proximity also depend on the protected area’s bounty
for survival and well-being. (DENR 2001; Minter 2010). The local tribes follow a mixed
livelihood strategy consisting of fishing, hunting, gathering, barter with neighboring farmers,
logging, paid labor and extensive agriculture. (Early & Headland, 1998).

Figure 1. Map of NSMNP (BMB -

DENR, 2015)

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The Biodiversity of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park

The Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP) is known to be the new largest and
most diverse protected area in the country. With its vast expanse of rainforests, it constitutes
a significant portion of the country’s overall primary rainforest covers and is known to be home
to 1,079 tree species. A total number of 639 faunal species reside in the protected area
including 55 of mammals, 294 of birds, 25 of amphibians, 65 of reptiles, 36 of freshwater fish,
128 of butterflies and 35 of dragonflies. Of the total 1717 species present, 10 endemic species
that are exclusive to the NSMNP were included in the research.

Figure 1. Northern Sierra Madre Figure 2. Cagayan River flowing

Natural Park (BMB - DENR, 2015) within NSMNP (BMB - DENR,
2015)

The Endemic Fauna of Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park

Pithecophaga jefferyi

Figure 1. Pithecophaga jefferyi Figure 2. The Great Philippine

(Pascua, N.A.) Eagle (Constantino, 2010)

Common Name: Monkey – eating Eagle

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Local Name: agila, manaol, tipule, mamboogook, malamboogook, garuda

Diagnostic Features: The Monkey – eating Eagle is the world’s largest eagle species. Males
and females look alike. Its crown is yellowish with dark brown streaks in its shaft. The long
feathers and nape form a crest and are colored dark brown and cream in margins. Its
upperparts are dark brown with feathers that have pale edges. In contrast, its tail is dark brown
with blackish bars and a white tip. Its chin is white and finely streaked with black. Its throat,
breast, belly, and underwing are grey – white. Its thighs are buffy with dark shaft streaks.
Immature eagles of this species lack the dark chin and striped thigh. Its high arched, deep bill
is bluish and has a blue – grey iris. It is an altricial bird based on the appearance of its chicks
at hatching. Upon hatching, an altricial bird is naked or almost naked, blind, and is too weak
to stand on its own. Juveniles have a similar appearance with adults but have white margins
to the feathers on its back and upper wing. It has large claws and yellow heavy legs. Their
long tails and rounded wings are also notable.

Life Span: Pithecophaga jefferyi lives within the range of 30 to 60 years.

Reproductive Cycle: Eagles of this species mate throughout their lives. They are
monogamous. It is also not unusual for Monkey – eating Eagles to find new mates upon their
partner’s death. They exemplify courtship behavior. Mutual soaring happens when both birds
soar in a gliding pattern and the males usually fly higher than females. A dive chase is
characterized by a diagonal drop in altitude while the wings are half folded directional to the
body, female leading the way. Talon presentation happens when the male’s talons, the sharp
and hooked claws, are expanded toward the female’s back, while the females’ talons are
extended while they are flipped over. Territorial flight behaviors occur when the male trails
behind and glides slightly above the female.

It takes two years to complete. When successful, one offspring is produced with an interval of
two years. Breeding season is from October to December for the chicks to hatch in the dry
season (February to May). After 60 days, the chick hatches and is a fledgling at the 7th to 8th
week. At 5 months, it becomes independent. Female Monkey - eating Eagles become sexually
mature at 3 to 5 years. Meanwhile, males reach sexual maturity at 4 to 7 years.

Uses: In the ecosystem it inhabits, Monkey - eating Eagles are among the top predators.
Humans, only natural predators of this species, hunt them and use their feathers to make
trophies.

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Acerodon jubatus

Figure 1. Upside down cute Figure 2. Giant Golden-crowned

Flying Foxes (Gropp,2015) Flying Fox (Abad,2013)

Common Name: Golden - crowned Flying Fox, Golden-capped Fruit Bat

Local Name: paniki, kabag, bayakan

Diagnostic Features: It has an endothermic body and exhibits bilateral symmetry. It is one
of the heaviest among the world’s flying mammals with its weight ranging from 1.047798 kg
up to 1.20202 kg. It has large, bright eyes and has simple ears with length that is the same as
the muzzle and are pointed. On the second digit of its wing, a claw exists. Its skull has strong
but incomplete postorbital processes with supraorbital foramen. It has two molars that are
sharp and pointed. It has thin fur on its throat and ear membranes, and short smooth fur
throughout its body.

In terms of color, variation is not dependent on age, sex, or locality of the organism. there is
considerable variation, but it has typically dark brown or black forehead and sides of its head,
reddish brown shoulders, and dark brown or black lower back and underside. The color of its
nape ranges from cream to golden yellow. At the back of the neck, an observable narrow line
is colored orange. Some yellow hair also exists at different areas throughout its lower body
fur.

Males of this species are usually larger than the females. Consequently, Acerodon jubatus is
also sexually dimorphic. The combined length of its body and body typically measures from
178 to 290 millimeters. The forearm length ranges between 125 and 203 millimeters, and
wingspan between 1.51 and 1.7 meters. This species has no tail.

Life Span: 12 - 23 years

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Reproductive Cycle: They use photoperiod as a cue to mate instead of localized
environmental conditions. All Acerodon jubatus reproduce at the same time, with females
giving birth on the months April and May, and sometimes even early in June. Females in
captivity usually only give birth once every two years carrying just a single offspring. However,
in the wild, they reproduce less often. Using their claws, the young cling to the fur of their
mothers, meanwhile, mothers keep their children cool by fanning them using one of their
wings. Mothers care for their young by gestation and lactation. Average offspring count is 1.

Uses: Roosts of large golden - crowned Flying Foxes among other species serve as tourist
attractions. In the ecosystem, it also plays its role as a frugivore - animal that lives by feeding
on raw fruits, fruit - like vegetables, roots, shoots, nuts and seeds. They disperse plant seeds.
Flying Foxes are often given recognition as charismatic icons of local culture, as well as natural
heritage, and are widely respected for their spiritual associations.

Bubo philippensis

Figure 1. Adult owl perched on Figure 2. Juvenile owl (Dy, 2013)

tree (Dy, 2013)

Common Name: Philippine Eagle – Owl

Local Name: bukaw

Diagnostic Features: Feathers of its upperparts are rufous and have a black streak in the
center. Its tail is dull and rufous barred with dark brown. Its chin is light rufous and has a whitish
throat. The rest of its underparts are very pale rufous with dark or brown streaks. Its bills are
tan with light tip, iris is yellow - brown, and its feet are light grey.

Life Span: Unknown; presumably twenty to sixty years.

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Reproductive Cycle: One egg per clutch is only produced by the Bubo with the incubation
period of 35 days. After the hatching of eggs, the young Bubo may have the capacity to fledge
and leave the nesting site of its family.

Uses: The Bubo is used as a collection and also for sport hunting along with serving as a
source of food for the local communities for its availability in lowland forestry.

Oriolus isabellae

Figure 1. Oriolus isabellae Figure 2. Oriolus isabellae

(Weerd, N.A.) (Weerd N.A.)

Common Name: Isabela Oriole, Grant’s Oriole

Local Name: Kiyaw

Diagnostic Features: Its upper parts are colored olive - yellow. Both its wings and tails are
olive brown and its underparts are yellow. Its bill is grey and has a dark red iris. Its feet are
grey. an estimated population of just 50-249 adults remaining. Due to its scarcity, little is known
about the Isabela Oriole's feeding and nesting habits, and even its call was not officially
recorded until 2003.

Life Span: Insufficient data

Reproductive Cycle: Insufficient data

Uses: The Isabela Oriole is considered a “golden treasure” and a symbol by the locals of the
NSMNP.

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Chelonia mydas

Figure 1. Green turtle swimming Figure 2. Immature Hawaiian C.

over coral reefs in Kona (Inaglory, mydas (Thorpe, 2006)
2010)

Common Name: Green Sea Turtle

Local Name: bildog

Diagnostic Features: These turtles are named after the greenish color of their subdermal fat.
Usually, they have one pair of prefrontal scales while other species have many pairs. It has
scales that are black at hatching and then transition to different colors in 27 to 50 years as it
matures. They have round and smooth skulls and have short snouts and beaks that cover
their jaw bones. Their short and serrated jaws provide the ability to rip and tear apart plants.
The dorsal section of skeleton or shell, which is carapace, is round - shaped and has four
scutes overlapping laterally. The ventral shield, plastron, similarly has four scutes. Sexual
dimorphism is completely recognizable in early adulthood. Male and female green sea turtles
can be differentiated by their morphology. The female green sea turtle has a cloacal opening
and small tail. On the other hand, males have slightly smaller carapace length, have longer
claws and longer tails in which the reproductive organs are set. Hatchlings of this species on
average weigh 25 g and 5 cm long, with white plastrons and blue-black carapaces. Meanwhile,
juveniles are approximately 40 cm in carapace length while subadults are 70 to 100 cm. The
carapace of adults’ measure between 100 to 120 cm with weights at approximately 150 to 200
kg.

Life Span: Their lives span up to a maximum of 75 years.

Reproductive Cycle: Both sexes of Green Sea Turtles have multiple mates, meaning that
they are polygynandrous or promiscuous. In accepting mates, males mount females and hold
on to their “mating notches” around the shoulders to assist them in the process of copulation.
This species breeds within the months of June to August. In some instances, males join other
mating pairs in an attempt to dislodge the mating male by latching onto the males for hours.

8
In summary, reproduction follows this pattern: the male searches for a female and then will
visually examine once finding one and approaches the female; if the female accepts the male,
copulation begins and could last for several hours. After the mounting episode, 15 days (on
average) pass and then the females attempt to nest. In choosing a nest site, turtles usually
approach the beach and select a suitable nest site. They clear the area of debris and dig a
hole to lay their eggs. They fill it with sand to conceal the eggs. The nesting season lasts from
June to September, and breed in intervals of 2 to 4 years. Green Sea Turtles usually produce
75 to 200 offsprings.

Uses: Juvenile Green Sea Turtles play an important role in the ecosystem. They prey on sea
serpents (Hydrozoa), moss animals (Bryozoa), sea hare eggs (Aplysia) and small jellyfish
(Medusa). Mature ones are herbivores and feed on seagrass and algae. In doing so, their
feces serve as a nitrogen - rich fertilizer for seagrass. Green Sea turtles facilitate nutrient
exchange and sea grass regrowth. Flukes which are trematode eggs parasitize Green Sea
Turtles. These species of flukes are: Leardius leardei, Carettacola hawaiiensis, Hapalotrema
dorsopora, and Haplotrema postorchis. They cause inflamed cardiovascular tissue and
eventually, death. Its shells are displayed as decoration and used to make jewelry.

The Endemic Flora of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park

Podosorus angustatus

Figure 1. Podosorus Figure 2. Podosorus angustatus

angustatus (Unknown) (Gutierrez, 1961)

Common Name: N/A

Local Name: N/A

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Diagnostic Features: The Podosorus angustatus is a monotypic fern and a critically
endangered plant endemic to the NSMNP. Little is known about its nature. The venation of P.
angustatus is close to the venation of several Microsorum and few Leptochilus species. The
paraphyses are peltate and clathrate as in Lepisorus. The stems range from erect to long-
creeping and the petioles lack stipules.

Life Span: Insufficient data

Reproductive Cycle: Pteridophytes do not have seeds or flowers either, instead they also
reproduce via spores. Sporophyte of P. angustatus consists of creeping rhizomes that give
rise to simple, or less commonly, pinnate leaves.

Uses: Insufficient data

Rafflesia aurantia

Figure 1. Rafflesia aurantia, fully Figure 2. Rafflesia aurantia, early

expanded (Barcelona, Co, Balete, senescent flower (Barcelona, Co,
& Bartolome, 2009, p.20) Balete, & Bartolome, 2009, p.20)

Common Name: Rafflesia

Local Name: N/A

Diagnostic Features: The Rafflesia aurantia is a plant without any leaves, stems and roots
but instead only has nutrient-absorbing threads to absorb nutrients from the host on which it
lives. It is a huge speckled five-petaled, orange flower with a diameter up to 106 cm, and
weighing up to 10 kg. The lower surface of diaphragm (except along the aperture margin) is
covered with uniformly lanate, glabrous ramenta that are rather sparse towards the aperture
and becoming denser towards the base of the floral cavity. Mature flower buds measure 8.5-
9 cm in diameter and are covered with bracts; cupule of mature flowers is light brown, 2.2 cm
tall and 6.3 mm wide. Its open flowers are 20 cm in diameter when fresh and the outer surface
is uniformly covered with fine warts that are sharp-edged. The anthers of male flowers are 12-

10
14 mm long, semi-globular and each hidden in a deep sulcus while its anther pores measure
2.5 mm across. Ovary of female flowers are lunate and 3.5 mm long, 6.5 mm wide.

Life Span: R. aurantia is short-lived and only lasts for five to seven days.

Reproductive Cycle: When the R. aurantia is prepared to reproduce, a small bud is formed
outside its host's root or stem and this eventually grows over a period of one year. The
cabbage-like head that develops opens to reveal the flower. Inside the flower, the stigma or
stamen is connected to a spiked disc. Mature plants of the R. aurantia only flower spanning
from five to seven days. When in bloom, the Rafflesia emits a repulsive odor, similar to that of
rotting meat. This odor attracts insects that pollinate the plant. Flies that are attracted to these
flowers will pass pollen unknowingly from a male plant to a female plant within this flowering
period. The females produce fruits after fertilization.

Uses: R. aurantia is parasitic on prostrate stems and underground roots of the host Liana
vine. Some murid rodents that may possibly be the seed dispersers of Rafflesia included
Bullimus, Rattus everetti and the Apomys sierra which is also endemic to the NSMNP.

Shorea negrosensis

Figure 2. Leaf Attachment and

Figure 1. Twig (Pelster &
stipules (Pelster & Barcelona
Barcelona, 2018)
2018)
Common Name: Red Lauan

Local Name: malatbang (Tagalog), manggachapui (Panay Bisaya)

Diagnostic Features: The Red Lauan is an evergreen to a semi – evergreen plant.

approximately 50 meters. It is a large tree with a small irregular crown. Thick, dark brown to
reddish black, its trunk is measured 180-200 cm and its bark is 1.3 to 2.6 centimeters. Its trunk
is also characterized by it prominent ridges and shallow furrow on its upper portion. It sheds

11
thick and irregular flakes. Its inner bark is dull, tan, or reddish in color. It grows slowly and
requires shade. When mature, it needs to be exposed in full sun, but its seedlings need shade
to grow. It is characterized by simple leaves, oblong - shaped, smooth on its ventral surface
and hairy on its dorsal side and has an alternate phyllotaxy. It has inflorescences that are few
or many - flowered. Its flowers are usually scented. Its fruits are usually nutlike, sometimes
capsular and three – valved.

Life Span: Dipterocarp trees take a very long time to grow to maturity. On average, the S.
negrosensis takes about 100 years for a dipterocarp to attain a canopy height of 30 m and
60 cm trunk diameter.

Reproductive Cycle: Propagation by seeds

Uses: Its wood is used for furniture and cabinet work of all kinds, for veneer and plywood,
hardboards, sash and in mill work, for boat planking and decking and building construction.
Since the 50’s, housebuilders have found it to be a very effective housing material. In urban
settings, they are used as Avenue trees for open public spaces. The tree is also important in
protecting watershed areas and potential in reforestation and agroforestry.

Hopea cagayanensis

Figure 2. Abaxial Leaf Surface

(Rule, 2017)
Figure 1. Abaxial Leaf Surface
(Rule, 2017)

Common Name: Narek

Local Name: N/A

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Diagnostic Features: Hopea cagayanensis is a large, evergreen tree regularly producing
trees of over 80 m (260 ft.) in height. It belongs to the genus Hopea and is very closely related
to the genus Shorea. In H. cagayanensis, the two outer sepals are slightly or markedly thicker
than the inner three and only these parts develop into wings in fruit. Short and subequal fruit
sepals occur. The heartwood’s color ranges from yellowish to dark green, with green streaks
and can be easily distinguished from the pale green sapwood. The texture is very fine and the
grain straight.

Life Span: Trees reach reproductive maturity at the age of 8–10 years.

Reproductive Cycle: The H. cagayanensis reproduce via seed propagation. It is believed

that the majority responsible for seed dispersion is comprised of different bee species.

Uses: H. cagayanensis is known for its wood that offers great strength, durability and support
and is harvested from the wild as a popular local timber used mainly in construction. The wood
ranges from hard to very hard, heavy to very heavy, strong and durable. The tree is sometimes
used to provide shade and is used in reforestation projects as it is suitable for planting on
degraded land.

Dendrobium aclinia

Figure 1. Dendrobium Figure 2. Dendrobium drawing

(Schuitemann, N.A.) (Schuitemann, N.A.)

Common Name: N/A

Local Name: N/A

Diagnostic Features: With many – noded stems carrying 3 or more, linear-oblong, apically
notched leaves that blooms on a lateral to subterminal, 1 to 1.5" [2.5 to 3.75 cm] long, 4 to 8
flowered inflorescences arising from the nodes opposite the leaves below the apex of the stem

13
and carrying short lived, greenish yellow flower. Large flowers with the edges of the hypochile
strongly serrate, the median keel with raised edges, and an acute tip.

Life Span: Dendrobiums will emerge in February with their blooms lasting approximately six
weeks. In cooler temperatures, they can rebloom up to three times a year. Weaker blooms
are evident after the 15th year.

Reproductive Cycle: Propagation by seeds; Some produces asexually through the keikis.
The Dendrobium orchid undergoes three periods during its life cycle. In its flowering phase,
blooms of flowers appear from the top of the cane where numerous numbers of blooms will
appear on each cane. In its growing phase, the flowers that bloomed will eventually die and
be replaced by the rapid growing of leaves. The growing phase of Dendrobium is also the
stage where the size of the plant also increases. And during the dormant phase, the
Dendrobium stops growing.

Uses: Dendrobium is used traditionally as a medicinal herb that treats severe fevers and all
kinds of ailments. It is also used for neuroprotective and as well as immunomodulatory
activities. Diabetic complications are also hit by Dendrobium such as diabetic retinopathy,
which makes the species have an anti - diabetic effect.

The Anthropogenic and Natural Threats of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park

Being the largest protected area in the country, the NSMNP is vulnerable to multiple
threats that may endanger its biodiversity. The main anthropogenic issue that the park is
experiencing is illegal logging. Despite being considered as the “most extensive lowland
forest”, it also contains 3 to 4 out of the 65 logging concessions in the Philippines (Tan, 2000).
Logging concessions are arrangements between the government and logging companies
regarding the management of the forest, within a period of time. However, even with an
agreement on proper management and handling of the forest, oftentimes, exploitation of
resources occur. Considering that the NSMNP has 3 or 4 of these, it is one of the main
contributors to the declining number of trees in the area. This is further emphasized on the
fact that there is a great difference between the land size of the rainforest in the province of
Isabela during 1930 and 1991, having had 4,000,000 hectares and 685,000 hectares
respectively. In addition, in the span of a year, 20,000m3 to 35,000m3 of wood are being
extracted from the forest (Ploeg et al., 2011). If the frequent and extensive logging continues,
this leads to another existing threat which is commercial deforestation. Following this,
according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), deforestation is
linked with the vulnerability of an area to different natural calamities. If not immediately

14
addressed, this may expose the area to a new natural threat which is the unpredictable and
changing weather patterns.

In line with the aforementioned major disturbances that the NSMNP is facing, the park
also attracts plans for economic development from the government and big corporations. Last
2017, Isabela governor Faustino Dy III announced his plans regarding the road construction
that would connect Ilagan, the provincial capital of Isabela, to the coastal areas. This is
because residents from Divilacan, Palanan, and Maconacon, are being deprived of their basic
needs such as healthcare and social services because of the lack of road connecting them to
the center of Isabela. However, if this is to be continued, it will encourage urbanization, in
terms of commercial and industrial infrastructures, and further put the biodiversity of the park
at risk. Extensive deforestation would have to occur and animals residing in the area would
lose their habitats. In fact, if this is to be pursued, the population of the Philippine Eagle in the
NSMNP is highly at risk because they depend greatly on a vast scale of forest area.

After the road development plans, the issue regarding the construction of the Kaliwa
dam resurfaced due to the persisting water shortage in the country. If this is to be pushed
through, it will be able to provide 600 million liters of water a day to Manila. However, this will
again be at the expense of the NSMNP’s biodiversity. In general, building of dams creates a
disruption in the local ecology of animals, most especially for aquatic plants and animals. First,
the dam will hold back sediments from the soil that downstream ecosystems benefit from.
Aquatic animals would also have to adjust to the new environment’s change in temperature
and chemical composition. New flooding patterns, different from what they have been
accustomed to, will arise and might be detrimental to their typical way of life. For example, fish
will have different migrating patterns as the dams would block several bodies of water,
affecting their reproductive cycles. In the long run, it is not impossible that the construction of
a large dam, such as the Kaliwa Dam, may be the cause of certain aquatic species’ extinction,
as this has already happened in other regions.

The Solutions to the Anthropogenic and Natural Threats of the Northern Sierra Madre
Natural Park

Illegal logging causes immense environmental problems not just in the Philippines but
all throughout the world. This involves deforestation, destruction of biodiversity, and tear down
the protective function of forests in relation to the environment such as massive landslides and
floods (Reboredo, 2013). The activity of illegal logging shows the ineffective management and
insignificant treatment of the officials in forests areas and rural communities (Erni, 2006).

15
Different solutions were proposed in minimizing and solving the issue in Northern Sierra Madre
Natural Park (NSMNP) which consequently failed. Some of these solutions were restricting
the households on wood revenues because these rural communities depend on wood and
timber revenues as a necessity in daily life thus offering the rural communities to create
alternative supplies in replacement of wood in the hopes of minimizing illegal logging activities
(Inoguchi, Soriaga, & Walpole, 2005; Ploeg, Weerd, Masipiquena, & Persoon, 2012).
According to Phloeg et al. (2012), enforcing the existing policy set by Grace Padaca, Governor
of Isabela Province in the year 2008, named Provincial Anti – illegal Logging Taskforce, would
greatly diminish the amount of illegal logging activity in NSMNP. 18 months after the policy
was set, over 4,000 cu. m illegal wood was confiscated and some known areas in the region
terminated illegal logging activities. Improving the management of the law, starting with the
corrupt and ineffective officials, is the foundation of forest sustainability and further decreasing
the environmental problems affecting the protected area and biodiversity of life in NSMNP.

In connection with illegal logging, commercial deforestation is severely affecting the

area of NSMNP. According to Tan (2000), programs phasing out commercial deforestation
must be implemented immediately in accordance with the general recommendations set by
the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB). Some of the programs are to phase out
timber agreements within the park’s radius wherein it involves shutting down sawmills and
lumber yards which are the center of illegal timber processing. Greater efforts must be exerted
by the government in identifying and shutting down these processes as well as gaining the
support of local communities. With this solution, Tan (2000) pertains to local residents and
government units to exhibit active support and interest by cooperating with the management
plans set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). This involves
the elimination of poaching forest products and resources by local residents and outsiders in
NSMNP. Different sources of income which do not involve illegal activities must be established
for the livelihood of local residents which also support the management plans set for the future
and preservation of NSMNP.

Road development opens up severe threats that greatly affects the natural resources,
environment, and biodiversity of NSMNP (Caro, Dibson, Marshall, & Peres, 2014). Opening
of roads would also benefit the land cultivators by having the advantage of easier accessibility
on the uplands and secluded areas. This allows available residential and commercial
settlements in the area resulting in an increase in population within the NSMNP radius (Ploeg
et al., 2012). Different advocacies and solutions were proposed in relation to the development
of roads to avoid establishment issues. Long term development plans of the proposed
establishment of roads must be have long consultation period to engineers and natural
resources managers before the legal permission to begin the development. Long consultation

16
period with experts would minimize biodiversity and environmental impact on the NSMNP.
During these consultation periods, a detailed evaluation of status and case – to – case
scenarios of different organisms must be properly observed for the mitigation of negative
impacts on the area. This conservation plan would increase awareness on the status of
different species found on the area and whether these species would be harmed or negatively
affected. In addition to this, meticulous policies regarding infrastructure development must be
implemented by local and national governments to avoid abusive settlers within the area.
Infrastructures must adhere to the good legal practice standards established by the
government wherein these buildings must be maintained and remain unbreakable (Caro et al.,
2014).

Conclusion

With its role as the “backbone of Luzon”, the Northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range is
a major contender in the Philippine economy and is home to local tribes such as the Agtas,
Dumagats, Paranans and Kalingas that subsist on its natural treasures for survival. Within the
area of the Northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range is the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park
or the NSMNP that serves as the largest protected area found in the Philippines.

With its rich biodiversity, the NSMNP serves as a home for many endangered and
endemic species of flora and fauna. Agricultural lands cover the Park planted with rice,
coconut, corn, crops, grasslands, and forests. Vegetation found in the park are beach forest,
mangrove forest, lowland evergreen rainforest, lower montane rainforest, forest on limestone,
and forest on ultramafic substrate.

Tree species occupying the NSMNP include the red lauan, narek, tanguile, mayapis,
palosapis, narra, and kamagong. Some flowering plants that can also be located here are the
Rafflesia aurantia and Dendrobium aclinia. Aside from these plants, the NSMNP also provide
a vast expense of habitat types for numerous endemic and even for endangered animals. In
fact, the Park is the largest and most diverse protected area in the country. Some of the
protected species found there include: Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), Golden
Crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus), Philippine Eagle - Owl (Bubo philippensis), Isabela
Oriole (Oriolus isabellae), Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta
caretta), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus
mindorensis).

Considering that the NSMNP is the largest protected area in the country, it is vulnerable
to multiple external threats, both from human activities and natural disasters. Under the
anthropogenic threats that the park is experiencing lies the main issue that is illegal logging.

17
From here, stems multiple other threats that the park may experience. These include
commercial deforestation, and eventually the natural threat that is the unpredictable and
changing weather patterns. In recent years, the construction of different infrastructures, such
as roads and dams, also surfaced in order to cater the growing population in the area. If the
mentioned threats persist, it will be greatly detrimental to the biodiversity of the NSMNP.

The government and the community work together that serves as a great factor in
preserving and taking care of the NSMNP area. It requires the full responsibility and effort of
the government in maintaining the efficient and effective management of policies implemented
within the vicinity of the area. Along with the efforts of the government, the local community
must also support and cooperate with the policies set by the local and national government
units. With coordination of both factors, the biodiversity and environment of the NSMNP will
be preserved.

18
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BOTANY

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