Vegetation study of the forests in Northwest Panay

• Main Authors: Madulid, Domingo A., Agoo, Esperanza Maribel G.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2004
• Subjects: Vegetation classification; Plants; Plant Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/12037
• Institution: De La Salle University

As an integral part of the project "Ecological Assessment, Restoration and Protection of the Northwest Panay Low-Elevation Forest Ecosystem: Developing Commtmity-Based Agroforestry Systems for Natural Resources Management and Biodiversity Conservation", this research deals particularly on the diversity of the flora, its utilization and conservation potential. The activities of the current research fit into the goals and objectives of the main project particularly: to conduct floral inventory and vegetation structure analysis in order to provide updated and upgraded information on the nature and status of its floral species and to identify and prioritize useful and threatened species for the establishment and management of genebanks of rare, vulnerable and endangered indigenous tree species. The specific tasks of the research include 1. floristic inventory of the area; 2. identification and description of the vegetation; 3. analysis of the vegetation structure; 4. determination of noteworthy species such as the dominant, threatened, and economically important species; and 5. assessment of the conservation status and degree of threat of the noteworthy species. Field expeditions were undertaken in different localities of Northwest Panay, i.e. Sibaliw, Malumpati, and northern municipalities from Jawili (Aklan) to Libertad (Antique), in February, April, and September 2002. Transect studies were done in 2 forest types, i.e. lowland evergreen rainforest in Sibaliw and forest over limestone in Malwnpati. Voucher specimens were collected, processed, identified and deposited at the Philippine National Herbarium. The data was analyzed to identify the dominant species, estimate tree densities, and determine the species diversity indices. Conservation status of species were determined using IUCN Plant Red Lists. Economically useful plants were identified and documented based on interviews, literature, and field knowledge of the team members. Based on the study, it is established that the Northwest Panay is a species-rich and ecologically-diverse area of Panay Island and that it is of biological, ecological, economic, and conservation significance. Three distinct vegetation types were identified. 1. The lowland evergreen rainforest is dominated by dipterocarps, with the high endemism, tree density, and species diversity, and harbours numerous rare, threatened and useful plants. 2. The forest over limestone is dominated by deciduous or semi-deciduous species, with high endemism, but low tree density and species diversity index. It also harbors many rare, threatened and useful plants. 3. The forest over ultrabasic soils also possesses numerous endemic species; several of which are indicator species for the presence of metals in the soil. Ecotourism, minor forest products extraction, and mining are identified to be the major threats to the diversity of the area. However, with proper management of these activities, paralleled by more research on the forest over ultrabasic soils, ecological and population studies, vegetation mapping, resource utilization inventory, and establishment of ex-situ conservation measures, the full potential of the site for utilization and conservation may be achieved.