Initial Assessment and Floral Inventory of V ascular Plant Species in Angat Dam Watershed, Barangay Kabayunan, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan

• Main Authors: Coloma, Angela Mae Y., De Chavez, Hannah Jelyn P., Gadin, Ma. Hanielyn Q., Ronas, Sophia Ysabel A.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: Angat Dam Watershed; Philippine flora; conservation; plant inventory; protected area
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2024/paper_see/3; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/conf_shsrescon/article/2361/viewcontent/PP_SEE_Coloma_De_Chavez_Gadin_Ronas___Hannah_Jelyn_DeChavez.docx.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The Philippines faces significant environmental challenges leading to rapid biodiversity loss. The Angat Watershed, vital for unique fauna and flora, maintains water quality for the Angat Hydroelectric Dam, supplying Metro Manila and nearby provinces. However, its flora is understudied, hindering plant protection. This study aims to assess and inventory vascular flora in Barangay Kabayunan, Angat Watershed, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan. Using purposive sampling and morphological assessment, 41 species (22 shrubs, 11 herbs, five trees, three epiphytes) from 38 genera and 24 families were collected, including 12 Philippine endemics, 20 natives, and one naturalized species. They were preserved in herbarium sheets and classified according to their conservation status and medicinal and economic properties. Conservation statuses include four vulnerable, two endangered, one threatened, and six least concerned, with 20 unevaluated by the IUCN Red List and DAO 2017-11. Additionally, 22 species have ethnomedicinal uses, 11 have economic value, and 13 are newly recorded in Bulacan. These findings highlight the need for further biodiversity research in Angat Watershed to enhance conservation strategies and further explore plant attributes of the collected species.