Mt. Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary (PSS #1)

This priority area of the EMCBAAP is located at the southern end of the Eastern Mindanao Corridor in Davao Oriental province. The Hamiguitan Range forms a north-south trending mountainous upland bordered on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the west by Davao Gulf and extending from southwest of the municipality of Mati through Gov. Generoso in southern Davao Oriental. Maximum elevations in this upland reach 1500-1800 meters. The bordering coastal lowlands represent different conditions of development. The western coastal lowland bordering the Davao Gulf was developed for abaca and coconut plantations early in the 20 th century and those activities, interspersed with diversified small-scale farming still predominate. The Pacific coastal lowland remains relatively undeveloped and contains only scattered small coastal settlements. A mossy montane forest covers portions of the mountains above 1200 meters with dwarf bonsai forests occurring in various locations. The IUCN Red List has identified at least 11 endangered vertebrate species in this area excluding plants. Several nesting sites for the Philippine Eagle ( Pithecophaga jefferyi) have been identified in this area.

Photo taken from old logging road along the Southeast boundary of the
range, Pacific Coast . Here the dynamic boundary between agricultural
expansion and eagle habitat is clearly seen.

In July 2004 the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary was formally declared a protected area by the DENR. A Stakeholder Summit convened in July 2005 in Davao City outlined some of the key issues facing biodiversity conservation in the Mt. Hamiguitan Range . Among these were the deteriorating forest cover and species habitat, excessive logging, denuded watersheds and diminishing water supplies, the hunting and collection of fauna and flora, especially the dwarf bonsai, and inadequate protective laws and enforcement of existing controls. In 2005 the entire Hamiguitan Range was covered with mining claims and 80% of the land area of Gov. Generoso is under mining claims. New exploratory mineral explorations were also started on the northeast margins of the Mt. Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary in that year.

Infrared satellite image of the Mount Hamiguitan Range – Davao Oriental.