Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) — A forest located in Mangatarem town, Pangasinan has been declared a “critical habitat” to save and protect several species living there that are at risk of extinction, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said on Thursday.
The 4,422.80-hectare forest, which covers portions of barangays Cacaoiten, Cabaluyan II, Calomboyan Sur, Lawak Langka, Catarataraan, Pacalat, and Malabobo, will now be called Mangatarem Critical Habitat. It is home to threatened wildlife such as the Philippine deer (Rusa marianna), Philippine warty pig (Sus philippensis), Philippine duck (Anas luzonica), Flame-breasted fruit dove (Ptilinopus marchei), Philippine eagle owl (Bubo philippensis), Luzon scops owl (Otus longicornis), and Rufous hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax).
Threatened flora oi-ói (Diospyros philippinensis), kalíngag (Cinnamomum mercadoi) and malabayábas (Tristaniopsis decorticata) are also endemic to the area.
The declaration prohibits dumping of waste, squatting or occupying, mineral exploration and extraction, burning, logging and quarrying as stipulated in the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001. It will also place the area under the jurisdiction of the DENR Ilocos Region Office and subject it to a management plan for its conservation.
The Mangatarem forest joins eight other designated critical habitats in the country: Rafflesia schadenbergiana Critical Habitat, Cabusao Wetland Critical Habitat, Malasi Tree Park and Wildlife Sanctuary Critical Habitat, Carmen Critical Habitat, Adams Wildlife Critical Habitat, Magsaysay Critical Habitat for Hawksbill Turtles, Cleopatra’s Needle Critical Habitat, and Dumaran Critical Habitat.
