Triad LGUs in Southern join forces: Mt. Lantoy–Palinpinon Range–Nug-as Forest, LCA

The Mt. Lantoy–Palinpinon Range–Nug-as Forest corridor serves as natural habitat of wildlife and provides economic benefits to the local populace.

Mt. Lantoy–Palinpinon Range– Nug-as Forest is located in the southeast of Cebu, within the administrative coverage of the three adjacent municipalities of (Mt. Lantoy), (Palinpinon range), and Alcoy (Nug-as forest). Mt Lantoy and Nug-as forest is identified Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) number 85 of the 128 terrestrial KBAs in the . It is an Important Bird Area (PH 071) FLUP preparation in Argao, Southern and Conservation Priority (CPA 105 Cebu and 106) among the 12 KBAs of Greater Negros-Panay Bio- geographic zone. Pteropus pumilus (Little Golden-mantled Flying Fox) at left; Nycmene rabori (Philippine Tube-nosed fruit bat), at right, in Palinpinon range. IUCN Status: endangered. NewCAPP/FFI/CBCFI Biodiv Assessment 2012

Palinpinon range, which supports populations According to FFI, the of globally important species, is situated between the assesment results describe two KBAs. The forest in Palinpinon range links with that 25% of the total bird the local conservation area (LCA) of Argao in the population, 60% of north. Nug-as forest is also connected with amphibians, and 45% of Dalaguete’s LCA in the south. This connection reptiles recorded in Cebu are demonstrates the need for establishment of a endemic to the Philippines. conservation corridor covering the three adjacent The Cebu Black Shama, Cebu LCAs to expand the natural habitat and wildlife Hawk Owl, and two species dispersal in Mt. Lantoy–Palinpinon range–Nug-as of reptiles, Cebu Small forest. Worm Skink, and Typhlops hypogius are known to be These forests harbor numerous threatened restricted to the island. The species of wildlife. The biodiversity assessment results distinguish the conducted by Fauna and Flora International (FFI) in remarkable endemism of this 2012 revealed that 182 species of trees were found in LCA. these locations. Of this 26 are threatened endemic species. These include the three critically endangered Inventory of mother mangachapoi (Hopea acuminata) in Mt. Lantoy, almon trees as well as cave and (Shorea almon) in Palinpinon range, and tangile (Shorea socio-economic assessments polysperma) in Nug-as forest. The endangered Cebu were conducted by the cinnamon (Cinnamomum cebuense) and gapasgapas DENR 7 and CBCFI in these (Camptostemon philippinense) were also recorded along sites in 2011. The inventory with 21 vulnerable species. found 346 individual native trees from 105 species. Eight The fauna record count 124 species, consisting of the mother trees in Nug-as of 80 species of birds, 19 species of mammals, 20 forest are threatened, reptiles and 5 amphibians. Threatened birds include including the critically the Cebu Black Shama (Copsychus cebuensis), Cebu endangered red lauan (Shorea Hawk Owl (Ninox cebuensis), and Streak-breasted negrosensis) and tanguile Bulbul (Ixos siquijorensis). Threatened reptiles include (Shorea polysperma), while four the Cebu Small Worm Skink (Brachymeles cebuensis) mother trees are vulnerable and Tropidonophis negrosensis. Two threatened flying in Mt. Lantoy. In Palinpinon mammals include the Philippine Tube-nosed fruit bat range, the threatened mother (Nycmene rabori) and Little Golden-mantled Flying trees consist of one critically Fox (Pteropus pumilus). Limnonectes visayanus is a endangered, two endan- threatened species of amphibian. gered, and one vulnerable. (Above) Brachymeles cebuensis (Cebu Small Worm Skink); (Below) Copsychus cebuensis (Cebu Black Shama), locally known as Siloy. IUCN Status: endangered. NewCAPP/FFI/CBCFI Biodiv Assessment 2012

Cave assessment classified eight caves (four in Argao, two Watersheds and in Dalaguete and Alcoy). The caves serve as habitat for bats, river systems are birds and other cave dwelling wildlife. Lantoy cave in Argao, important features of Balay’g sayaw and Maangaso in Alcoy are recommended closed Mt. Lantoy–Palinpinon to public entry by the DENR due to the hazardous condition. range–Nug-as forest Six of these caves are included in the DENR Memorandum conservation corridor. Circular 2012-13 (List of Classified Caves). Watersheds support the economic activities of Assessment of socio-economic conditions revealed that the populace. Argao sources of income in upland barangays are derived from River is important not farming, livestock raising, employment and contributions from only for Argao but also family members. The report also indicates that contour for Dalaguete: it is the farming, rotational cropping, and tree planting are forest source of water to the conservation practices in the uplands. These municipalities latter’s mid-north have similar patterns of utilization of forest and non-forest upland barangays. The products: cutting trees for house construction, firewood for fuel, upland and urban areas livestock forage and wild plants for home décor. The meagre including the irrigated income (monthly average net family income: P2,491 in Argao; rice farms in Argao is P2,814 in Dalaguete; P538 in Alcoy) and lack of alternative fed by this river system. livelihood encourages villagers’ dependence of available forest Mt. Lantoy is part of this resources for consumption to sustain their daily needs. watershed. Within Dalaguete, Lagnason and The institutional response to Dingayop are the two significant watersheds. address the prevailing threats. Lagnason supplies water in Palinpinon range Recognizing the urgent need to address and downstream. The bat roosting site is the threats in Mt.Lantoy–Palipinon found in this watershed. The Ilaya-Suwa river range–Nug-as forest, the municipalities of Dingayop also provides water for domestic of Argao, Dalaguete, and Alcoy entered and support the water requirements for into an inter-Local Government Uunit agriculture use in the uplands; its riparian collaboration to establish an LCA. forest serves as migration route and source of food for wildlife. In Alcoy, almost half of the The New Conservation Areas in the domestic water supply in Nugas Philippines Project (NewCAPP) of the comes from the two springs of Caindigan. This DENR Biodiversity Management watershed covers significant area of Nug-as Bureau (BMB) with fund support from forest. the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)- United Nations Development Human activities are prevailing Programme (UNDP) in partnership with threats in Mt. Lantoy–Palinpinon the DENR 7 and Cebu Biodiversity range–Nug-as forest natural habitat Conservation Foundation, Inc. (CBCFI) and ecosystem function. While Mt. supported the LGUs of Argao, Lantoy–Palinpinon range–Nug-as forest Dalaguete, and Alcoy through forging provides ecosystem services to the local the joint Memorandum of Agreement populace, the forest which serve as natural (MOA) last 15 May 2012. The agreement habitat is highly important for conserva on to is intended to (a) establish LGU-led LCA secure the survival of key threatened wildlife in the three municipalities (Argao 3,058 species. However, conflicting resource use e.g. has.; Dalaguete 3,087 has.; Alcoy 3,504 conversion of forest to agriculture, timber has.); (b) strengthen conservation poaching, firewood gathering and charcoal initiatives and protect the key making, wildlife hunting and gathering exist biodiversity resources in Mt. Lantoy– in the forestlands. These activities are mainly Palinpinon range–Nug-as forest which the threats that lead to forest fragmentation, are currently under various threats. In loss of biodiversity and impair ecosystem addition, the agreement mandates the function. Uncertain land tenure of forestlands three LGUs to provide manpower and (in Argao) aggravates these conditions since financial resources for LCA Management individuals without secure tenure favor Plannning and support an inter-LGU exploitation of forest resources over alliance to harmonize implementation of conservation. management plans. LCA Plan Preparation, Dalaguete, Southern Cebu

Dalaguete and Alcoy are This provided an opportunity for Argao implementing the FLUP approved in to pilot test integration of biodiversity 2004 with assistance from the United conservation, disaster risk reduction and States Agency for International REDD+ in FLUP preparation. The local Development (USAID) funded conservation area management planning Philippine Environmental Governance process in Argao was integrated in FLUP (EcoGov) Project. The municipal formula on activities. In addition the government of Argao entered an FLUP was designed for integration with agreement with DENR 7 and CBCFI in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan March 2013 for technical assistance in (CLUP) of the municipality. Forest Land Use Planning (FLUP).

Mobilizing Argao, Dalaguete and Alcoy Biodiversity Conservation (BioCon) Teams for LCA management planning process

Creation of LGU BioCon Teams. The Conduct of biodiversity Joint memorandum of agreement (MOA) was assessment. For informed decision- the basis for issuance of Executive Order in making and to sustain local each Municipality creating the technical conservation area management, the working group named Biodiversity biodiversity assessment activity Consevation (BioCon) team intended to was designed to include on-site strengthen LCA management planning coaching and hands-on training of activities. The team is composed of selected BioCon team and other participants. department heads, barangay leaders, and The Project commissioned Fauna civil society representatives. Representatives and Flora International (FFI) to lead from Cebu Technological University (CTU) the assessment which involved College of Forestry and DOST-funded participation of BioCon team of Philippine Science High Argao Biology Argao for Mt. Lantoy, forest Department are members of Argao BioCon wardens, barangay officials and Team. In addition, the three municipal Biocon team in Dalaguete for governments committed to provide funds for Palinpinon range and BioCon team travel and logistics required in LCA with forest wardens of Alcoy for management planning. Nug-as forest assessment. LCA Plan Preparation, Alcoy, Southern Cebu

The biodiversity Spatial determination of Mt. Lantoy-Palinpinon assessment field work took range-Nug-as forest LCA or corridor. Guided by the almost a month with FFI team results of biodiversity assessment, tree inventory, cave of experts providing lectures, and socioeconomic assessments, the BioCon teams with sharing techniques and hands barangay officials and forest wardens of Alcoy and on demonstration of the Dalaguete proceeded with mapping of significant methods to the participants natural areas. Using vegetative cover and land use maps in each site. Simultaneous printed in large tarpaulin as reference to validate the with the biodiversity extent of forest cover and existing land use. Biodiversity assessment, the FFI mapping assessment results, mother tree locations, cave and team supported with DENR sightings of wildlife during the assessment were 7 and LGU representatives considered during the mapping. In Argao, the data conducted resource and land gathering and validation of natural areas were included use mapping in adjacent in the FLUP community mapping activity facilitated by locations of the the study the LGU GIS persons. sites. The initial data gathered during the Following the field validations, Municipal GIS biodiversity assessment were persons, with assistance from DENR 7 and CBCFI, presented to the Mayors to organized the mapping workshop to lay-out the inform them of the important proposed local conservation area map of each species for conservation. The municipality. The LCA base map show the covered biodiversity assessment barangays, drainage systems and connections of forest results analysis workshop cover from barangay Tabayag in Mt. Lantoy, although was also conducted to orient fragmented with cultivations, brushlands, few BioCon teams, DENR, CBCFI settlements and roads link with the mixed forests of and other participants on the Canbantug towards Palinpinon range of Dalaguete. Nug- procedures for analysis. The as forest in Alcoy is connected with the forests in Obong workshop results were key and Catolohan in the southern part of Dalaguete’s local inputs in the LCA conservation area, these linkages establish the inter-LGU management planning local conservation area referred to as Mt. Lantoy– process. Palinpinon range–Nug-as forest conservation corridor.

Table 1. Local conservation area coverage, in hectares. Sources: LGU BioCon teams of Argao, Dalaguete, and Alcoy Identification of conservation The activity guided the BioCon team to targets and strategies. The assess the current organizational capacity Biodiversity Review and LCA Plan including the biophysical conditions of the Preparation workshop enabled the local conservation area and analysis of the BioCon teams from the three existing threats which lead to formulate Municipalities to visualize the strategies for protection of conservation connections of the proposed inter-LGU targets. The goals and objectives setting conservation corridor in relation to the for the local conservation area were also biodiversity resources of each LGU. part of the workshop.

The LCA Management Plan for Mt. Lantoy–Palinpinon range– Nug-as forest conservation corridor

With focus to attain the conservation targets, the following are the key strategies of the three LGUs in the management of the Local Conservation Area:

• Demarcation of LCA bounda- • IEC campaign to encourage community ries; participation; • Land use zoning of the LCA; • Capacity building/establish the Municipal • Restoration of fragmented Environment Office; forests; • Promulgation of supportive local policy for LCA • Assessment of tenure holders implementation; and within the LCA; • Establish network and linkages with government, • Putting-in place and strength- non-government organizations, and the private ening law enforcement; sector.

For organizational To ensure sustainability of LCAs in the long- support to LCAs, the term, the adoption of Alcoy and Dalaguete LCA municipal governments of Management Plans affirmed municipal government Alcoy and Dalaguete commitments to sustain the plan implementation. committed to increase For instance, the LCA is included in the municipal manpower and financial annual investment plan. In Argao, the FLUP Joint resources to carry on LCA Implementation MOA which signifies the approval management plan implemen- of the Municipal FLUP by the DENR is being worked tation. The municipality of out to ensure FLUP and LCA implementation. Argao committed to establish the Municipal Environment The establishment of Mt. Lantoy–Palinpinon and Natural Resources Office range–Nug-as forest local conservation area is the (MENRO) or at the minimum outcome of the good relationship between the three designate personnel to Local Chief Executives and previous partnership oversee FLUP and LCA between CBCFI, DENR, and the municipal implementation. governments. Implementation of LCA Management Plans and Strengthening the Inter-LGU Alliance

Moving forward, the priority work is directed into developing the inter-LGU alliance to support the implementation of local conservation area management plans. To operationalize this emerging coalition there is a need of an inter-LGU Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the municipal government of Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, the Provincial Government of Cebu, DENR 7, and Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (CBCFI) to support the following:

• Creation of Biodiversity Management Council to oversee all forest related and biodiversity management programs of the three municipalities; • Promulgation of municipal ordinance to provide incentives for forest and wildlife protection, law enforcement and forest restoration and penalties for violations; • Setting-up of conservation corridor (inter-LGU) boundary law enforcement system; • Provision of manpower and financial resources to operationalize inter-LGU implementation of LCA management plans; and • Integration of biodiversity conservation programs (LCA) in the Municipal Annual Investment Plans (AIPs), Executive and Legislative Agenda of the Municipal Government; Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) and other local development agenda, including the Provincial Physical and Development Plan (PPDP) of the Provincial Government of Cebu.

CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MT. LANTOY–PALINPINON RANGE–NUG-AS FOREST 1. Expand the scope and coverage of 3. Recalibrate and reconfigure the Mt. Lantoy and Nug-as forest KBAs to management zoning regime to provide include Mt. Lanaya in the municipality emphasis on early to advanced secondary of Alegria and Palinpinon range in growth forests. Dalaguete. Early and advanced secondary growth Current conservation initiatives are forests are the most important habitats for most focused on Mt. Lantoy and Nug-as forest trigger species, e.g. Black shama and Cebu KBAs. The biodiversity assessment results flowerpecker. While these species can probably indicate that Mt. Lanaya and Palinpinon tolerate some degree of disturbance as they are range have equally important forest forest edge species, caution should be taken to habitats that support populations of balance the management and social costs in globally important species such as the implementing this recommendation. Cebu Flowerpecker, Black Shama, and 4. Whenever possible, use native plant Cebu Cinnamon. species in forest restoration and corridor(ing) 2. Develop short, medium, and long activities in the project sites, especially in term strategies to enable the Palinpinon mountain range. connectivity of remaining forest patches A gradual removal of introduced species in southern Cebu. and immediate replacement with native plant • Connect forest patches that are close to each species is recommended. other. The distance between Mt. Lantoy and 5. Develop at least a 250–500m buffer zone Palinpinon range is ca.7 km while the in all project sites starting from forest edges. distance between Nug-as and Palinpinon is ca.14 km. It would make sense if Designing a buffer zone in conservation corridor(ing) efforts would start from Mt. areas starting from the forest edges is very Lantoy to Palinpinon range then Nug-as important to ensure the survival of some forest. species that utilize this zone. It is suggested to • Engage communities and private have a minimum of 250-500 meters as a buffer landowners in corridor(ing) initiatives to zone. As indicated in the analysis, the tipping harmonize goals and interests to ensure that all stakeholders will benefit from it. point for most trigger species would be a • Conduct feasibility studies to determine maximum conversion of 5% of its current forest 2012 FFI, and NewCAPP UNDP-GEF appropriate restoration strategies that are cover to other land uses. Beyond this tipping science based, ecologically sound, and point, population and occupancy of most

socially acceptable to connect these patches. trigger species would respond negatively. Source: