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Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape, Laguna/Quezon

Address: Quezon

Description: The “meeting point” of the northern and southern Luzon sub-faunal regions, the MBSCPL consists of four adjoining mountains, which is home to the remaining forest of Southern Luzon. The establishment and empowerment of an environmental constituency among the surrounding communities has helped build a social fence against threats to the area’s BCSD.

Status: Closed

Site Profile Summary

Ecosystem Types	Lowland to Sub-montane Forests
Protection Status	Protected Landscape (Republic Act 9847, approved Dec 11, 2009)
Area	10,900.59 ha
Geographical Profile	Mt. Banahaw, one of the largest active volcanos in the Philippines with an elliptical crater, is also known as the Vulcan de Agua (the water volcano) because of the numerous springs that flow from its base. Its last recorded eruption in 1721 resulted in the formation of a lake in its crater. Its composition, which includes two adjoining mountains, host one of the largest tracts of forest in Southern Luzon. A major watershed for creeks, rivers, and falls draining into Laguna de Bay and Tayabas Bay. Caves found in the western portion of Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal are popular base camps for religious and eco-tourist groups. Species endemism is rated highly in Mt. Banahaw, with scientific records noting a range of 66% to 76%.
Flora	Plant diversity is high with 268 species, dominated by trees with moderately high diversity and even distribution. A total of 175 tree species have been found. 55 endemic plant species have been found, including 16 threatened species among vascular plants. There is also an abundance of pioneer species from the Moraceae and Meliaccaeae families. A new Rafflesia species endemic only to Mt. Banahaw, Rafflesia philippensis, was rediscovered in 2006.
Fauna	Endemic fauna include threatened species such as the Flame-breasted fruit dove (Ptilinopus marchei), Luzon tarictic hornbill (Penelopides manillae), and Southern Luzon Cloud Rat (Phloeomys cumingi). 72 of 84 bird species are endemic; 7 are threatened, including the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) and Philippine cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia). 163 species of terrestrial fauna have been found here, including 19 newly documented species. 13 out of 22 mammal species are endemic, with 6 vulnerable. 18 of 29 amphibian species are endemic, with 11 threatened, 7 vulnerable, and 4 near-threatened. 12 of 18 reptile species are endemic, with two threatened species, the Sailfin Water Lizard (Hydrosaurus pustulatus) and the Highland Sphenomorphus (Sphenomorphus luzonense).
Livelihood Resources	Agriculture, Agroforestry
Other Matters of Significance	Mount Banahaw is often associated with mysticism, superstition, and religion and is a well-known and frequented destination among pilgrims and other people seeking miracles or blessings.

Threats

Unclear implementation of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992, leading to incomplete delineation of the protected landscape boundaries and a lack of planning and immediate implementation of Buffer Zone Management Activities. These result in unrestricted access to the protected area.
Forest occupancy, unsustainable farming practices, and encroachment of farming activities in the protected landscape resulting from intensified economic pressures.
Extraction of natural forest products, including illegal mining and quarrying, as well as wildlife resource extraction such as hunting, plant gathering, and timber poaching.
The major community water sources are also being controlled and monopolized by consortiums that enclose these sources with water-impounding systems, thus reducing the water supply to a number of communities and also to various wild animal habitats.
Poor knowledge and low appreciation of the significance of biodiversity and its conservation for sustainable development among communities within Banahaw.

FPE-funded Projects and Initiatives

Project	Grant Type, Strategy	Duration	Implementing Partner
Stakeholders and Donors Forum for Mt. Banahaw San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL)	Small, Constituency Building	2017	Luntiang Alyansa para sa Bundok Banahaw
Executive & Legislative Forum for Mt. Banahaw - San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL)	Small, Constituency Building	2016	Luntiang Alyansa para sa Bundok Banahaw
Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas Project	FPE Special Project	2011-2013	Luntiang Alyansa ng Bundok Banahaw
Multi-Stakeholders Consultation and Publication of the Revised Management Plan of Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL)	Medium, Constituency-building	2012	Tanggol Kalikasan-Timog Katagalugan (TK-TK)
Tapat Kalikasan Environmental Law Enforcement Training	Small, Capacity-building	2011	Luntiang Alyansa ng Bundok Banahaw (LABB)
Banahaw Komiks - Pahayagan Vol. II	Small, Advocacy	Dec 2007-Apr 2008	Binhi ng Buhay ng Magsasaka sa Bugon (BINHI)
A Shift towards Area-specific Intervention Through Strategic Planning for the FPE Priority Site in Banahaw	Medium, Proactive, Sites	2007
Environmental Presentations of 3 Dimensional Map of Mts. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape and Lobbying of House Bill No. 2773 (Banahaw Bill) in the 14th Congress	Small, Advocacy	2005	Luntiang Alyansa ng Bundok Banahaw (LABB)
Mt. Banahaw de Dolores Closure and Bantay Banahaw Operation 2004	Small, Action Grant	Feb to Apr 2004	Banahaw de Dolores Outdoor Club (BDOC)
Lakbay Aral sa Mt. Province	Small, Action Grant	April 2004	Samahan ng Mga Kababaihan Sa Barangay Lalo (SKBL)
Environmental Exhibit of Mt. Banahaw	Small, Action Grant	2004	Luntiang Alyansa Para Sa Bundok Banahaw (LABB)
PAMB Capacity Building and Strengthening and Community-based Resource Management Project for Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL)	Large, Site-focused	2000-2005	Luntiang Alyansa para sa Bundok Banahaw (LABB) Haribon Foundation - Tanggol Kalikasan Southern Luzon Polytechnic College
Bantay Banahaw 2003	Small, Action Grant	2003	Pinagbakuran Multipurpose Cooperative for The Banahaw Mountaineers, Inc.
Community-Based Resource Management for Mts. Banahaw and San Cristobal	Large, Site-focused	2002	Luntiang Alyansa para sa Bundok Banahaw (LABB) Tanggol Kalikasan
Pananaliksik, Dokumentasyon at Paglilimbag ng Bahanggunian para sa Bundok Banahaw	Small, Action Grant	2000	Ugnayan ng mga Magsasaka sa Quezon (UGMA)
Bahanggunian para sa Bundok Banahaw	Small, Action Grant	2000	Haribon Foundation-Tanggol Kalikasan
Strengthening the Environmental Defense of Bantay Banahaw	Small, Action Grant	2000	Luntiang Alyansa ng Bundok Banahaw (LABB)
Bantay Banahaw '96 & Urgent Activities for the Banahaw Protected Area	Small, Action Grant	1996	Luntiang Alyansa ng Bundok Banahaw (LABB)
Pagkakawing-kawing ng mga Tao't Pamayanan Tungo sa Pangangalaga ng Samo't-saring Buhay ng Banal na Bundok Banahaw	Large, Site-focused	1996	Community Organizing, Training, Research, and Advocacy Institute (CO-TRAIN) Luntiang Alyansa Para sa Bundok Banahaw (LABB)
Awit Banahaw – Concert of Joey Ayala and Bagong Lumad	Small, Action Grant	1994	Bagong Lumad Foundation
Mt. Banahaw Ecology Awareness Campaign	Small, Action Grant	1994	Luntiang Alyansa para sa Bundok Banahaw (LABB)

Key Outcomes

A “social fence” has been established around Mt. Banahaw, establishing an environmental constituency that is aware of the site’s ecological importance as a critical watershed and an important center of biodiversity, as well as its cultural reputation as a sacred mountain.
Drafting of the Initial Protected Area Plan (IPAP) and the endorsement of the Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Area Bill.
Active stakeholder involvement for the protection and conservation of the area has been encouraged and catalyzed, resulting in enhanced community initiatives on monitoring and regenerating the site’s natural resources.
11 people’s organizations (POs) involved in the project have become more competent and proactive with their own project development and management, fund sourcing, networking, and membership strengthening. Community members have also become more vigilant in patrolling protected zones and enforcing local ordinances.
Communities residing within the vicinity of the project sites were provided with more livelihood opportunities.
POs were assisted in acquiring tenurial instruments.
Legal assistance of forest wardens and information campaigns have ensured that the resources are safeguarded from continual abuse driven by economic demands.
Planting of various indigenous tree species in ten hectares within the protected area, and the establishment of six hectares of PO-managed pilot farms in four communities.
Ecological, social and institutional profiling and community mapping conducted in the MBSCPL.

Reference

Foundation for the Philippine Environment. 2004. Sustaining Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives: Site Focused Projects 2003. Quezon City, Philippines: Foundation for the Philippine Environment.
Foundation for the Philippine Environment. 2012. The Sacred Mountain: Mount Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape (KALIKASAN BCSD Knowledge Series Four). Quezon City, Philippines: Foundation for the Philippine Environment.
Foundation for the Philippine Environment. 2014. RSEA Guidebook (Results Booklet). Quezon City, Philippines: Foundation for the Philippine Environment.
Manipon AJN and Mesina SR. 2009. Communities, Conservation, and the Filipino Environmentalist. Quezon City, Philippines: Foundation for the Philippine Environment.

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