Peter and Indira Widmann

INNOVATIVE

METHODS FOR THE

CONSERVATION OF

THE

PHILIPPINE

COCKATOO IN

PALAWAN

HOW THREATENED IS THE KATALA?

• This justified a listing as “Critically Endangered” (IUCN 2013).

• Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future!

• Less than 1,000 individuals left in the wild! Ca. 750 in Palawan!

• The future of the species will be decided in this province!

11/8/2013 FOOTER TEXT 2

LOWLAND HABITATS ARE CRUCIAL FOR THE

PHILIPPINE COCKATOO! • At least during the breeding

season Philippine Cockatoos are restricted to coastal areas.

• The majority of the terrestrial protected areas in the Philippines are situated in the uplands and therefore are unsuitable for their conservation.

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Altitude [m]

“TRADITIONAL” APPROACH: PROTECTED AREA

DECLARATION AND MANAGEMENT UNDER NIPAS AND

AS ECAN CORE ZONE

Rasa Island Wildlife Sanctuary in cooperation with

Narra Municipality and other stakeholders organized

in PAMB

“INNOVATIVE” APPROACH: TURNING POACHERS

INTO WILDLIFE WARDENS

MONTHLY COCKATOO COUNTS IN ROOST SITE

ON RASA ISLAND

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PHILIPPINE COCKATOO HABITAT: FOREST STRUCTURE

• Philippine Cockatoos are adapted to naturally open forest types, e.g. beach forests, seasonal lowland forests.

• They are able to breed and forage in degraded forests and even cultural landscapes with only little and highly fragmented forest cover left.

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Tree cover [%]

No. of nest trees

[n=56]

Pandanan Island in cooperation with Jewelmer and Balabac Municipality

INNOVATIVE APPROACH: PROTECTED AREAS

DECLARED UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CODE

• Culasian Managed Resource Protected Area, Rizal

• Omoi and Manambaling Cockatoo Reserves, Dumaran

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES: CONSERVATION OUTSIDE

OF PROTECTED AREAS

• Integration of biodiversity outcomes in CLWUP

• Wildlife Corridors

• Local ordinances to protect and monitor the Philippine

Cockatoo

• Conservation education

OTHER SPECIES THAT ARE TYPICAL FOR OPEN FOREST

CONDITIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Integration of biodiversity outcomes in land use planning.

• Finer tuned habitat protection in lowland areas (multiple use zone): e.g. remnant forest patches, grassland-forest mosaics, wetlands with presence of threatened and endemic species.

• More protected areas declared by private land owners and LGUs.

• Habitat restoration, instead of reclamation, in old mining sites.

• Diverse and profitable agricultural, pastoral and silvicultural landscapes, e.g. multi-species plantations, “Rainforestation”, etc. (best practices among Biosphere Reserves).

• Informed population and enlightened decision makers.

SHARE A PLACE TO LIVE!

THANK YOU! • Loro Parque Fundacion

• Northern England Zoological Society

/ Chester Zoo

• ZooParc de Beauval

• ZGAP

• Department for Environment and

Natural Resources Philippines

• Palawan Council for Sustainable

Development

• IUCN/SOS

• Additional photos: Roland Seitre