24th Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium University of Eastern Philippines Catarman, Northern Samar 14-17 April 2015 “Island Biodiversity Conservation: Successes, Challenges and Future Direction” th The 24 Philippine Biodiversity Symposium organized by the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines (BCSP), hosted by the University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman, Northern Samar 14-17 April 2015 iii iv In Memoriam: William Langley Richardson Oliver 1947-2014 About the Cover A Tribute to William Oliver he design is simply 29 drawings that represent the endemic flora and fauna of the Philip- illiam Oliver had spent the last 30 years working tirelessly pines, all colorful and adorable, but the characters also all compressed and crowded in a championing threatened species and habitats in the small area or island much like the threat of the shrinking habitats of the endemics in the Philippines and around the world. William launched his islands of the Philippines. This design also attempts to provide awareness and appreciation W wildlife career in 1974 at the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust. In Tof the diverse fauna and flora found only in the Philippines, which in turn drive people to under- 1977, he undertook a pygmy hog field survey in Assam, India and from stand the importance of conserving these creatures. There are actually 30 creatures when viewing then onwards became a passionate conservationist and defender the design, the 30th being the viewer to show his involvement and responsibility in conservation. of the plight of wild pigs and other often overlooked animals in the Philippines, Asia and across the globe. He helped establish the original International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Pigs and Peccaries Specialist Group in 1980 at the invitation of British conservationist, the late Sir Peter Scott. From 1990 he was instrumental in the development of the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Programme with initially as core components the conservation programmes for the Visayan Spotted Deer, the Calamian Deer and the Visayan Warty Pig, carried out under MOAs between the Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Philippines and other conservation partners. Over time the conservation activities expanded to other taxa, other areas and other partners, eventually resulting in the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, committed to the long-term conservation of the Philippines’ native and endemic wildlife and natural habitats. In recent years, William was the Director of Programme Development and Conservation Partnerships for the Foundation. He worked closely with many conservation groups in the country including the Philippine Biodiversity Acknowledgment Conservation Foundation, Inc.; Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation, Inc.; Mindoro Biodiversity rime Premne earned his B.S. in Biology (Major in Zoology) from UP Los Baños, and Conservation Foundation, Inc.; Polillo Islands later worked as a research assistant in Conservation International, focusing on Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc.; Cebu Pdulong and small-scale fisheries. He intends to pursue graduate studies in Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc.; the Zoology soon but is currently doing his other life passion as an illustrator in California. Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation; the West Visayas State University, Silliman University and Biodiversity Management http://ppremne.carbonmade.com/ Bureau (formerly Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau). William was also instrumental in developing and providing opportunities for Filipinos to pursue wildlife conservation careers – those he had supported are now holding key positions and taking the lead in conserving wildlife in the Philippines. v 1 William was a remarkable character in conservation and a very talented wildlife illustrator. He leaves a lasting impression on all those who met him as he had an incredible grasp of the details of many conservation issues, and yet also had a huge vision. He could also have a fiery temper and had To highlight the rich biodiversity and ecological services obtained from islands, and the very little patience for bureaucratic obstruction. growing threats from invasive alien species, pollution, habitat degradation and climate change, among others, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) dedicated the May 2014 World Biodiversity Day celebrations to island biodiversity. This also coincided with the designation of 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Developing States. This Without him many Filipinos would not have year the 24th Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium is adopting the same theme learned of the importance of our own endemic to recognize the importance and vulnerability of the country’s islands in the light of and threatened wildlife. Without him we would persistent environmental threats. have lost the Cebu Flowerpecker, the Philippine Islands have unique and discrete ecosystems that harbor fauna and flora, which Spotted Deer, the Visayan Warty Pig, the Negros are considered to be distinct evolutionary treasures. These “repositories of genetic Bleeding Heart Pigeon, threatened Philippine information” as the CBD would put it, are also a key to the survival, cultural identity and hornbills, the Philippine cloud rats, the economies of around 600 million islanders in the world. Calamian deer, the Philippine Bare-backed fruit bat, threatened endemics of Mindoro including For many of us attending the 24th Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium, islands are the Philippine teak and many more. Message our lifeline: a good majority of us live on islands, we study and conserve species on islands, and we enjoy every single benefit of living and working in an island ecosystem – Perhaps the best way to remember William is the quick access to seafood included. Truly, islands are our home, our laboratory, and our through the words of the colleagues who knew playground. him best: It is with this regard that holding this symposium in an island, with a theme that focuses on islands, is timely. Samar Island is exemplary in its biodiversity, but one that is in “We have not only lost a widely valued the forefront of natural catastrophes and human-induced threats. The aftermath of conservation activist who spent most of his Typhoon Yolanda (International name: Haiyan) in this region in 2013 will remind us of the life fighting for the survival of endangered vulnerability of our islands, and the communities that depend on these. species, but also a remarkable character in conservation,” said Rafael L Coscolluela, I would like to thank the University of Eastern Philippines for welcoming us in their campus president of the Philippine Biodiversity and taking on the task of hosting this symposium. I congratulate all the facilitators and Conservation Foundation and former Negros presenters for the new contribution to our knowledge on Philippine biodiversity, and I Occidental Governor. commend all the participants for being part of another year in our history books. May we use this as a venue to forge partnerships toward a common direction for the conservation of our country’s islands. Have a great stay in Samar, and welcome to the 24th Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium! “Without you, William, these species would never have been put on the conservation map. In particular, you kept the faith with the Pygmy Hog when most of us would have been tempted to give up, and your dedication to this species, and the threatened pigs of the Philippines is an example to us all.” Cynthia Adeline A. Layusa-Oliveros, MSc, MPhil President The best way to honor him is to keep carrying out species conservation with passion and determination. Biodiversty Conservation Society of the Philippines Compiled and edited by: Tammy Mildenstein 2 3 Republic of the Philippines UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES I would like to congratulate the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines University Town, Northern Samar (BCSP) for organizing the 24th Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium at the University Email: [email protected]; Telefax-055-2518611 of Eastern Philippines, Catarman, Samar on 14 to 17 April, 2015. I would also like to commend the University of Eastern Philippines for hosting this most worthwhile event. The theme of the 2015 symposium, “Island Biodiversity Conservation: Successes, Challenges and Future Directions”, highlights the richness of island ecosystems especially in an archipelago like the Philippines, and at the same time, it underscores the vulnerability of these ecosystems—particularly to manmade threats. The entire nation and the rest of the world have seen the indescribable havoc and MESSAGE devastation that Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) has brought upon the people of Eastern Visayas and nearby regions, Samar Island being one of the worst hit areas. More than 6,000 people have perished and more than ten million people have been rendered homeless. We have seen before our television and computer screens entire towns and cities literally vanish from the face of the earth. Message Yolanda, the strongest, deadliest and most destructive typhoon to hit the Philippines, is a grim reminder of the dangers of climate change. As long predicted by scientists, onsidering the present day threats to the protection and the frequency and intensity of weather-related natural calamities and unpredictable conservation of biodiversity, it becomes a rare privilege weather patterns will increase because