Mount Hamiguitan
Encyclopedia
Mount Hamiguitan is a mountain
located in the province of Davao Oriental
. It has a height of 1,620 meters (5, 314.96 ft.). The mountain and its vicinity has one of the most diverse wildlife populations in the Philippines
. Among the wildlife found in the area are Philippine eagle
s and several species of Nepenthes
. Some of the latter, such as the Nepenthes peltata
, are endemic to the area. The mountain has the only protected
forest in the Philippines, with an estimated area of 2,000 hectares. This forest is noted for its unique pygmy forest
of century old trees in an ultramafic soil, with many endangered, endemic and rare species of flora and fauna.
The Mount Hamiguitan Range, with an area of 6834 hectares (68.34 km²), was declared a national park and Wildlife Sanctuary
in 2003. In 2009, the provincial officials of Davao Oriental
submitted the park for listing as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
.
in the southeastern part of the island of Mindanao
, Philippines
. It occupies the land area within the political boundaries of Mati
, San Isidro
and Governor Generoso
.
. The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources and Development (PCARRD) reported that the mountain is inhabited by five endangered species, 27 rare species, 44 endemic species and 59 economically important species. The following species can be found in the area:
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
located in the province of Davao Oriental
Davao Oriental
Davao Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Mati and borders Compostela Valley to the west, and Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur to the north. Davao Oriental is the easternmost province of the country with Pusan Point as the easternmost...
. It has a height of 1,620 meters (5, 314.96 ft.). The mountain and its vicinity has one of the most diverse wildlife populations in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Among the wildlife found in the area are Philippine eagle
Philippine Eagle
The Philippine Eagle , also known as the Monkey-eating Eagle, is an eagle of the family Accipitridae that is endemic to forests in the Philippines. It has brown and white-coloured plumage, and a shaggy crest, and generally measures in length and weighs...
s and several species of Nepenthes
Nepenthes
The Nepenthes , popularly known as tropical pitcher plants or monkey cups, are a genus of carnivorous plants in the monotypic family Nepenthaceae. The genus comprises roughly 130 species, numerous natural and many cultivated hybrids...
. Some of the latter, such as the Nepenthes peltata
Nepenthes peltata
Nepenthes peltata is a tropical pitcher plant known only from the upper slopes of Mount Hamiguitan on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is characterised by a peltate tendril attachment and conspicuous indumentum...
, are endemic to the area. The mountain has the only protected
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
forest in the Philippines, with an estimated area of 2,000 hectares. This forest is noted for its unique pygmy forest
Pygmy forest
A pygmy forest is a forest which, for pedological and geological reasons, contains only miniature trees. Pygmy forests may occur over various world locations with notable occurrences being noted in the literature of the: California coastal terraces and inner coastal mountains of Northern...
of century old trees in an ultramafic soil, with many endangered, endemic and rare species of flora and fauna.
The Mount Hamiguitan Range, with an area of 6834 hectares (68.34 km²), was declared a national park and Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife refuge
A wildlife refuge, also called a wildlife sanctuary, may be a naturally occurring sanctuary, such as an island, that provides protection for species from hunting, predation or competition, or it may refer to a protected area, a geographic territory within which wildlife is protected...
in 2003. In 2009, the provincial officials of Davao Oriental
Davao Oriental
Davao Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Mati and borders Compostela Valley to the west, and Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur to the north. Davao Oriental is the easternmost province of the country with Pusan Point as the easternmost...
submitted the park for listing as a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
Location and geography
Mount Hamiguitan is located in the province of Davao OrientalDavao Oriental
Davao Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Mati and borders Compostela Valley to the west, and Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur to the north. Davao Oriental is the easternmost province of the country with Pusan Point as the easternmost...
in the southeastern part of the island of Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It occupies the land area within the political boundaries of Mati
Mati, Davao Oriental
Mati is the only city in, and the capital city of, the Province of Davao Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 122,048 people. Residents of Mati are called Matinians.-History:...
, San Isidro
San Isidro, Davao Oriental
San Isidro is a 4th class municipality in the province of Davao Oriental, Philippines. It has a land area of 205 km². According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 31,705 people in 6,117 households....
and Governor Generoso
Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental
Governor Generoso is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Davao Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 46,745 people in 8,297 households.-Barangays:Generoso is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.* Anitap...
.
Plants
Inventory of flora species in the mountain and its vicinity showed that its montane forest has the highest species richness of plants with 462 species, followed by its dipterocarp forest with 338 species, mossy forest with 246 species and agro-system with 246 species. Some of the plants commonly found on Mount Hamiguitan include the following:- Leptospermum flavescens
- Wendlandia nervosa
- Tristaniopsis micrantha
- Dacrydium elatumDacrydium elatumDacrydium elatum is a species of conifer in the Podocarpaceae family.It is found in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.Tree to 35m, dbh 80cm-References:...
- Calophyllum blancoiCalophyllumCalophyllum is a flowering plant genus of around 180-200 species of tropical evergreen trees in the family Calophyllaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek words καλος , meaning "beautiful", and φυλλον , meaning "leaf." Its members are native to Australasia, Madagascar, Eastern Africa,...
- Symplocos polyandra
- Almaciga (Agathis philippinensis)
- Elaeocarpus verticillatus
- Patersonia lowii
- Astronia lagunensis
- Nepenthes alataNepenthes alataNepenthes alata is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to the Philippines. It is found on all the major islands of the archipelago, with the possible exception of Palawan. It is one of the easiest and most popular Nepenthes species in cultivation....
- Nepenthes hamiguitanensisNepenthes hamiguitanensisNepenthes hamiguitanensis is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to a single peak on the Philippine island of Mindanao, where it grows at elevations of 1200–1600 m above sea level. Once thought to be a natural hybrid between N. micramphora and N. peltata, this plant is now considered a...
- Nepenthes micramphoraNepenthes micramphoraNepenthes micramphora is a tropical pitcher plant known only from Mount Hamiguitan on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is a highland plant growing at elevations of 1100–1635 m....
- Nepenthes mindanaoensisNepenthes mindanaoensisNepenthes mindanaoensis is a species of pitcher plant endemic to coastal lateritic hills on Mindanao in the Philippines. It is very closely related to N. alata.-Natural hybrids:*N. alata × N. mindanaoensis...
- Nepenthes peltataNepenthes peltataNepenthes peltata is a tropical pitcher plant known only from the upper slopes of Mount Hamiguitan on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is characterised by a peltate tendril attachment and conspicuous indumentum...
- Schizaea inopinata
- Schizaea malaccana
- Paphiopedilum ciliolarePaphiopedilum ciliolarePaphiopedilum ciliolare is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
- Dipodium paludosumDipodiumDipodium is a genus of more than 20 species of orchids native to tropical and subtropical regions of China, Malaysia, New Guinea, the Pacific Islands through Australia. It is the only genus of its alliance, Dipodium....
- Epigeneium sp.EpigeneiumEpigeneium is a genus of orchids. It contains about 35 species native to India, China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines.-Selected species:* Epigeneium acuminatum* Epigeneium amplum* Epigeneium arjunoense...
- Dendrochilum longilabre
- Dendrochilum tenellum
- Dendrochilum sp.DendrochilumDendrochilum is a genus of epiphytic, lithophytic and a few terrestrial flowering plants in the orchid family...
(Unknown species) - Macodes petola
- Coelogyne chloroptera
- Bulbophyllum sp.BulbophyllumBulbophyllum is the largest genus in the orchid family Orchidaceae. With more than 2,000 species, it is also one of the largest genera of flowering plants, exceeded only by Astragalus...
- Appendicula sp.AppendiculaAppendicula is a genus of orchids with more than 130 species distributed in India, Indonesia, New Guinea , the Philippines, New Caledonia and the Pacific islands, with one species, A. australiensis endemic in Australia. The genus Chilopogon is sometimes included here.- List of species :#Appendicula...
- Gleichennia hirta
- Drimys piperita
- Hydnophyton sp.
Animals
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List has identified at least 11 endangered vertebrate speciesEndangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
. The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources and Development (PCARRD) reported that the mountain is inhabited by five endangered species, 27 rare species, 44 endemic species and 59 economically important species. The following species can be found in the area:
- Philippine eaglePhilippine EagleThe Philippine Eagle , also known as the Monkey-eating Eagle, is an eagle of the family Accipitridae that is endemic to forests in the Philippines. It has brown and white-coloured plumage, and a shaggy crest, and generally measures in length and weighs...
(Pithecophaga jefferyi) - Giant Golden-crowned Flying FoxGiant golden-crowned flying foxThe Giant golden-crowned flying fox , also known as the Golden-capped fruit bat, is a rare megabat and considered the largest known bat in the world. The species is endangered and is currently facing the possibility of extinction because of poaching and forest destruction...
(Acerodon jubatus) - Philippine Forest Roundleaf BatPhilippine Forest Roundleaf BatThe Philippine Forest Roundleaf Bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to the Philippines.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(Hipposideros obscurus) - Philippine TarsierPhilippine TarsierThe Philippine Tarsier , known locally as the Kupal in Cebuano/Visayan and Mamag in Luzon, is an endangered species of tarsier endemic to the Philippines. It is found in the southeastern part of the archipelago, particularly in the islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao...
(Tarsius syrichta) - Philippine Warty PigPhilippine Warty PigThe Philippine Warty Pig, Sus philippensis, is one of four known pig species endemic to the Philippines. The other three endemic species are the Visayan Warty Pig , Mindoro Warty Pig and the Palawan Bearded Pig , also being rare members of the Suidae family...
(Sus philippinensis) - Philippine Brown Deer (Cervus mariannus)
- Fischer's Pygmy Fruit BatFischer's Pygmy Fruit BatThe Fischer's Pygmy Fruit Bat or Philippine Pygmy Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Haplonycteris. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat...
(Haplonycteris fischeri) - Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus)
- Tawitawi Brown-doveTawitawi Brown-doveThe Tawitawi Brown Dove is a threatened species of bird in the Columbidae family. It is endemic to forests in the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. Until recently it was considered conspecific with the Mindanao Brown Dove...
(Phapitreron cinereiceps) - Tarictic HornbillTarictic HornbillThe Tarictic Hornbill is a hornbill found in rainforests on the islands of Panay, Negros, Masbate, and Guimaras, and formerly Ticao, in the Philippines...
(Pinelopides panini) - Grey-hooded SunbirdGrey-hooded SunbirdThe Grey-hooded Sunbird is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss....
(Aethopyga primigenius) - Giant Scops-owlGiant Scops-owlThe Giant Scops Owl, Lesser Eagle-Owl, or Mindanao Eagle-Owl is a species of owl in the Strigidae family. Originally described as Pseudoptynx gurneyi, it is now a only species in the genus Mimizuku....
or Mindanao Eagle-owl (Mimizuku gurneyi) - Batomys hamiguitanBatomys hamiguitanThe Hamiguitan Hairy-tailed Rat, Batomys hamiguitan, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Philippines. is a yellow-brown animal with a long furry tail, weighs about 175 grams, and is related to several other species known in Central Mindanao, Dinagat Island and Luzon...
(a yellow-brown furry-tailed rat species endemic to the area)