Mt. Hilong-Hilong Caraga, Philippines

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Site Profile

Country: Philippines. Forest Site Name: Mt. Hilong-Hilong, Caraga. Governance Location: Mt. Hilong-Hilong Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) (code Project Strengthening Non-state Actor PH083) is located in northeast Mindanao facing the Pacific Involvement in Forest Governance in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Ocean and lies within the political boundaries of the provinces Papua New Guinea. of Agusan Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur in the Caraga Region. In particular, it is bounded by Surigao del Norte on the north, Pacific Ocean on the east, Butuan Bay onthe Contents west, and Agusan del Sur on the south. Lanuza, Surigao del • Country • Site Name Sur covers about 317.41 square kilometers of the whole KBA • Location • Site Area area of 2,432.23 square kilometers with the highest elevation • Biodiversity • Conservation Approaches at 2,012 meters above sea level. Its peak is located in Brgy. • About FOGOP Mahaba, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte. Other mountain peaks in Mt. Hilong-Hilong are Mt. Mabaho in Santiago and Mt. Kabatuan in Kitcharao. The Range covers 20 municipalities in four provinces of the Caraga Region. This project is funded by the European Union Site Profile Mt. Hilong-Hilong

Site Area: The forest cover of Mt. Hilong-Hilong range of the region. In fact, the Philippine Yearbook (2003) is approximately 8,000 sq. kms., containing one of indicates that the region was the second highest the few remaining old growth or primary forests in the producer of metallic mineral valued at PhP 1.25 billion country with endemic flora and fauna species. Mt. in 2001. Hilong-Hilong KBA belongs to the so-called timber and mineral corridor of Mindanao as a repository of Biodiversity: the largest ore deposits and tree plantation areas in the • Contains one of the few remaining primary forests in the country.

The Philippine tarsier • Believed to be a Philippine eagle nesting site. (Tarsius syrichta) is found • Nearly half of the species of forest vertebrates can in Mt. Hilong-hiong. Photo only be found in the country. by Wiki user Plerzelwupp CC BY-SA 3.0. • Home to 120 different birds species, 59 are endemic • Sanctuary of endemic frogs, reptiles, mammals and threatened flora. country. A total of 6,845.03 sq. kms. has been declared • Thick with vegetation, high plant diversity and as the Caraga Forest Plantation Corridor. There are also considered a critical watershed. at least 52 mining companies around Mt. Hilong-Hilong • Known for its waterfalls and lakes. that are either in application or in exploration stages. • Agusan River provides the potable and irrigation Mt. Hilong-Hilong’s mineral resources contribute at water needs of the Caraga region. least 60% to the total mineral commodities production Site Profile Mt. Hilong-Hilong

Threats

Rapid population growth in the Illegal logging (the region is Wildlife hunting and collection uplands. classified as a hotspot). for food and trade.

Irresponsible mining. Road expansion and Agricultural expansion.

development. Thaddeus Martinez / Haribon. Homes in Baguio uplands Noecarrillo / wiki. Road photo by

Conservation approaches: Local governments in this KBA have been implementing conservation programs aimed at protecting threatened and endangered species such as Pawikan Conservation, Dugong Conservation Project, and the Philippine Raptors Conservation Project.

The protection and biodiversity conservation in Mt. Hilong- Hilong is being seriously pursued by the civil society groups in cooperation with the local government units (LGUs), government agencies, and other sectors with the participation of local communities.

The majestic Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) lives among the Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural 345,226 hectares forestland on Mt. Hilong-Hilong. Photo by J Kahlil Resources, Inc. had also implemented the European Panopio / Haribon Foundation. Union-funded project known as the Governance and Local Development of Endangered Forests (GOLDEN Haribon also implemented the ROAD to 2020 program Forests) in Mt. Hilong-Hilong and Mt. Diwata Range (now Forests For Life), a campaign to restore 1 million KBAs (2005-2011). The project aimed to protect the hectares of forest throughout the country. This forest remaining old growth forests in the country through restoration project was introduced by Haribon using the the reduction of deforestation rates. It promoted rainforestation technique to several community-based sound sustainable forest management (SFM) practices organizations and indigenous peoples organizations with forest dependent families, encouraged local within the forests of Mt. Hilong-Hilong and Mt. Diwata governance of forests through the creation of local Range KBAs. Beneficiaries were provided with trainings conservation plans, provided forest-friendly livelihoods on rainforestation enabling them to establish their to marginalized forest-dependent families such as own nurseries and to ensure the survival of planted agro-forestry and organic soap-making, and advocated seedlings. Livelihood projects were also introduced for national and local policies supportive of forest to the indigenous peoples groups and other forest- conservation. dependent communities. Site Profile Mt. Hilong-Hilong

Above: A resident on Mt. Hilong-Hilong delivering dried abaca via motorcycle. Photo by Kathleen Zambas / Haribon Foundation.

Left: A community member shares inputs from her group involving issues affecting forest in their neighborhoods. Photo by Albert Balbutin / Haribon Foundation.

Forest Governance Project:

Philippine forests are home to some of the world’s unique and threatened species. It also provides indispensable ecological services for millions of Filipinos. As forests continue to disappear, the Strengthening Non-State Actor Involvement in Forest Governance in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea or the Forest Governance Project (FoGoP) aims to increase participation of non-state actors in various forest governance processes. Effective forest conservation is possible with strengthened governance mechanisms. Local communities must also be empowered with technical knowledge, platforms, and skills to establish forest monitoring programs to effectively contribute to forest management and land use planning processes.

Through the establishment and strengthening of community networks and between cross-national networks, the Forest Governance Project or FoGoP aims to enhance information sharing and empower non-state actors in advocacies concerning forest conservation. The project is being implemented over a 5-year period (2017-2021), with focus on capacity building for effective engagement in forest management and policy processes. It will also complement existing forest conservation initiatives. Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Inc. is currently implementing this project in three sites in the Philippines. Mt. Hilong-Hilong is one of the sites.

References: PASA: Expansion of Mt. Hilong-Hilong Range Protected Landscape, 2006. Brief Profile: Mt. Hilong-Hilong Range, n.d. Golden Forest Project Report November 2011. Ibanez, Jayson. (2015). The Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor Conservation Framework.