State ofthe Philippine Forest
andImportant Biodiversity
AreasRound Table Discussion on the Resource Valuation Manual
Quezon City11 March 2005
Jose Don T. De AlbanConservation Science Research Department
Haribon Foundation
State of Philippine Forests
• The Philippines needs an ideal 54% of forest cover to maintain its natural ecological processes (Sajise, 1996)
• The Philippines has 23% of forest cover left (NAMRIA, 1988)
• 8.02% of remaining Philippine forest cover is under existing mining permits* & active timber license agreements**
• 37% will potentially be opened to mining if the mining industry is revitalized
State of Philippine Forests
* as of 29 February 2004** as of 30 November 2004
Important Biodiversity Areas
In the Philippines,a total of 117
important biodiversity areas (IBA)has been identified,
using a set of international criteria, to determine
globally significant areasfor biodiversity conservation
Important Biodiversity Areas
95 important biodiversity areas(81% of total IBAs)
are found on forest habitats
• 18 IBAs are threatened by existing mining permits*, 17 by active TLAs**, and 2 by both
• 82 potentially threatened by revitalized mining industry
Threats to IBAs
* as of 29 February 2004** as of 30 November 2004
• The Philippines has The Philippines has 1818 identified identified major river basinsmajor river basins
• 1313 out of out of 1818 major river basins major river basins have forest cover below have forest cover below 20%20% of of its total areaits total area
Major WatershedsMajor Watersheds
The Philippine forestis in a critical state
and the country is now in danger of
losingthis vital natural
resource!
THANK YOUVERY MUCH!