Tropical Natural History 21(1): 119–145, April 2021 ©2021 by Chulalongkorn University Biodiversity in Forests over Limestone in Paranas, Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), A UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site Nominee ELAINE LOREEN C. VILLANUEVA1*, DESAMARIE ANTONETTE P. FERNANDEZ1, MARJORIE D. DELOS ANGELES1,2*, PAUL JOHN S. TOLENTINO1, REN DIVIEN R. OBEÑA1 AND INOCENCIO E. BUOT, JR.1,3 1Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, PHILIPPINES 2Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, CHINA 3Faculty of Management and Development Studies, University of the Philippines Open University, Laguna, PHILIPPINES *Corresponding authors. Elaine Loreen C. Villanueva ([email protected]) and Marjorie D. Delos Angeles ([email protected]) Received: 4 June 2020; Accepted: 10 February 2021 ABSTRACT.– This study provides a checklist of the vascular flora and terrestrial vertebrate fauna in forests over limestone in Paranas, Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), Philippines, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site nominee. Nine 20x20m plots and 18 line transects were established for the floral inventory. The faunal assessment was conducted in transects laid in three sites within Paranas. Secondary data was collected from published articles regarding biodiversity in Samar Island Natural Park (SINP). The list shows 99 plant species representing 63 genera and 44 families. Eighteen species were identified as non-endemic and 38 species were Philippine endemics. New island records of Tectaria calcarea (C. Presl) Copel., Artocarpus rubrovenius Warb. and Hancea wenzeliana (Slik) S.E.C.Sierra, Kulju & Welzen were also reported. Eleven plants are listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List and/or DENR DAO 2017-11. Also, 106 vertebrates were recorded in a faunal inventory, including 4 amphibians, 9 reptiles, 84 avifauna, and 9 mammal species, with overall endemism of 71 (67%). A new locality record of Platymantis bayani was noted in Paranas. Twenty-one vertebrate species were listed as threatened in the IUCN Red List and/or DENR DAO 2019-09. This biodiversity information strengthens the nomination of SINP as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, as this supports SINP’s outstanding universal value. The checklist is also essential for the formulation of policies and management strategies for the conservation and protection of kaigangan (forest over limestone). KEY WORDS: ecotourism, endemic species, kaigangan, Paranas, Philippines, protected areas, threatened species, UNESCO World Natural Heritage (NIPAS) Act of 1992 (Republic Act No. INTRODUCTION 7586). It has a total land area of 330,300 hectares plus a buffer zone of 124,500 Samar Island houses an extensive area of hectares. A forest over limestone is a forest karsts (Restificar, 2006). Some of the karst formation type thriving on limestone karsts, landscapes are part of the Samar Island which are outcrops mainly composed of Natural Park (SINP), a forest reserve on the calcium carbonate. Limestone karsts cover third-largest island of the Philippines. It was about 10% of the total land area of the declared as a protected area under Philippines and are notable for having high Proclamation No. 442. 2003, pursuant to the species endemism due to their unique flora National Integrated Protected Areas System and fauna (Fernando et al., 2008). 120 TROPICAL NATURAL HISTORY 21(1), APRIL 2021 Recent biological assessments conducted vertebrates from the municipalities of Taft, in SINP by scientists have proven the Can-avid, and Suribao in Eastern Samar, richness of the biodiversity of the area. Basey in Samar, and Catubig in Northern Floral (Quimio, 2016) and faunal (Patindol, Samar and documented 182 species 2016) assessments were conducted in five including 18 amphibian, 23 reptile, 121 bird, watersheds of SINP, where 212 tree species and 20 mammal species. and 182 terrestrial vertebrate species were To further enhance the protection of documented. Most of the tree individuals SINP, the area was nominated as a assessed were dipterocarps (Family Diptero- UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. This carpaceae). However, continuous forest is a huge opportunity and challenge for the fragmentation and destructive anthropogenic stakeholders of SINP, as the UNESCO activities have led to a decline in biodiversity. World Heritage Convention seeks the Defining conservation priorities is of high conservation of landscapes that possess importance since it safeguards biodiversity outstanding universal value, which means and ultimately halts biodiversity loss (Brooks that its significance should go beyond et al., 2006). national boundaries and benefit all of The Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) humanity (Williams 2011). approach was initiated by the Philippine Southeast Asia is composed of about government to aid the agency and 10% karst in terms of land area (Day and stakeholders prioritize conservation action Urich, 2000). In this region, there are eight and devise geographically specific strategies UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites that protect the individual species and situated in terrestrial karst formations: safeguard representative habitats (Edgar et Gunung Mulu National Park (Malaysia), al. 2008). Samar Island, as a Key Lorentz National Park (Indonesia), Dong Biodiversity Area, has its share of notable Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex biodiversity. Early records in Merrill’s (Thailand), Thungyai-Hua Kha Khaeng Enumeration of the Philippine Flowering Wildlife Sanctuaries (Thailand), Ha Long Plants (1923-1926) noted 406 endemic Bay (Vietnam), Phong Nha-Ke Bang species, represented by 200 genera and 65 National Park (Vietnam), Trang An families in Samar Island (Madulid, 2000). Landscape Complex (Vietnam), and Puerto Moreover, additional species of palms Princesa Subterranean River National Park (Adorador and Fernando, 2017; 2019; (Philippines) (Clements, 2006; Day and Adorador et al., 2020), orchids (Meneses et Urich, 2010; Day, 2011; UNESCO, 2020). al., 2018; Meneses and Cootes, 2019), These natural heritage sites feature their rich Pyrostria (Alejandro et al., 2013), and and unique biodiversity as their outstanding Gomphandra (Schori and Utteridge, 2012) universal values, including their scenic karst were recently documented. A total of 30 landforms. In the same way, SINP can mammal (Heaney et al, 2010), 172 bird contend to be included in this natural (eBird, 2021), 24 amphibian (Diesmos et al., heritage list if it has enough data on its 2015; Diesmos et al., 2020), and 31 snake unique biodiversity, as well as on its (Leviton et al., 2018; Weinell et al., 2020) physical characteristics such as geological species from extensive checklists and recent features and processes. Information on faunal discoveries were recorded from biodiversity is crucial for the IUCN, the Samar. Patindol (2016) assessed terrestrial advisory body of the UNESCO World VILLANUEVA ET AL. — BIODIVERSITY IN FORESTS OVER LIMESTONE IN PARANAS 121 Heritage Convention (WHC), to ensure the targeted for the conservation of the coverage and conservation of the World threatened species and sustainable use of the Heritage Sites (Williams, 2011). economically important species. The Assessment and Conservation of SINP has already begun this action Forest over Limestone Ecosystem through some of its ecotourism initiatives. Biodiversity in Selected Municipalities of In the SINP Central Headquarters in Brgy. Samar Island Philippines (CONserve- Tenani, Paranas, the office has an eco-lodge KAIGANGAN) is a three-year research managed by the Protected Areas program of UPLB and Samar State Superintendent (PASu). The lodge helps University (SSU) which aims to assess and monitor the influx of visitors as it conserve the biodiversity in the forest over accommodates interested tourists and limestone ecosystems towards sustainable explorers. Moreover, the Paranas Eco-trail management of Samar Island, Philippines. and Birding Site was launched last August One of the main goals of this program is to 2019 by the Department of Tourism (DOT), conduct floral and faunal assessments in two DENR, local government units (LGUs), and municipalities within SINP: Paranas and POs (Amazona, 2019). Managed by the Taft. As a source of valuable biodiversity Tenani Association for Women and information, this study produced a checklist Development (TAWAD), the community- of Paranas flora and fauna, along with other based ecotourism activity serves as a source existing baseline information about SINP of livelihood for the residents of Paranas that can support its worth as a natural while promoting the biodiversity of Samar treasure that transcends national boundaries. kaigangan. This program is also assisted by Moreover, to qualify as a world natural Tour Guides and Boat Operators for River heritage site, SINP should also have Protection and Environmental Development concrete policies and sustainable management Organization (TORPEDO), another PO strategies for its protection and conservation composed of boatmen and river guides. (UNESCO, 1972; Williams, 2011). Its To illustrate the outstanding universal administration should be well-represented value of SINP as a nominee of UNESCO by various stakeholders and site managers World Natural Heritage status, on-site from different sectors and genders, as evidence of the biodiversity of SINP is UNESCO promotes a human-rights based needed. Thus, the baseline data from this approach in managing world heritage