Projects
EDC Biodiversity Conservation and Monitoring Program Phase 3
The Biodiversity Conservation and Monitoring Program has been implemented in partnership with the Energy Development Corporation since 2008. Phase 3 of BCMP, which commences in 2021, aims to build on the biodiversity data collected in the past 10 years of the program to further the conservation of threatened and endemic fauna and flora in the Philippines.
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The program has five components:
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Biodiversity Metrics aims to develop multimetric indices for the assessment of the ecological health of forest and freshwater ecosystems in EDC project sites, for potential wider implementation in the country.
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Flagship Species Initiative aims to fill in knowledge gaps for the development of local species action plans for four species of endemic fauna and five species of endemic trees. The Fauna Flagship species are the Golden-crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus), the Philippine Warty Pig (Sus philippensis), the Visayan Hornbill (Penelopides panini), and the Apo Myna (Goodfellowia miranda).
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Flora Conservation aims to bring focus to and fill in knowledge gaps for species of endemic understory flora: the Nepenthes species of Leyte island, Clerodendrum preslii, and Medinilla apoensis.
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Botanical Treasures will be a popular science book documenting the diversity of Philippine flora, with particular focus on those found in EDC-managed geothermal reservations. This is the flora counterpart to the recently published Wildlife Treasures about Philippine vertebrate fauna.
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The development of the UPIB-EDC Biodiversity Hub will aim to enhance the natural history facilities of the Institute of Biology for popular science education and research services. The Biodiversity Hub will consist of the Vertebrate Museum, Invertebrate Museum, Jose Vera Santos Memorial Herbarium, and the UP Biology-EDC BINHI Threatened Species Arboretum, as well as a Virtual Museum counterpart to these facilities.
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Relevant Publications:
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Fidelino JS, Duya MRM, Duya MV, and Ong PS. 2020. Fruit bat diversity patterns for assessing restoration success in reforestation areas in the Philippines. Acta Oecologica, 108: 10363.
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Fidelino JS, Duya MRM, Duya MV, Fernando ES, and Ong PS (Eds). 2019. Wildlife Treasures. Philippines: Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines Diliman and Energy Development Corporation.
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Anticamara JA, Pasion BO, Gonzales RS, Duya MRM, and Ong PS. 2012. Understanding high altitude reforestation in Mt. Apo, Philippines. Eurasian Journal of Forest Research, 15(1): 31-43.
Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) Palanan Permanent Forest Dynamics Plot
The Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) is a global network of 72 forest research sites dedicated to the study of forest function and diversity, carbon fluxes, and the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. Among these forest research sites is the 16-ha Palanan Permanent Forest Dynamics Plot (Palanan PFDP) in Palanan, Isabela, within the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park.
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The Palanan PFDP was established in 1994 by Isabela State University, Conservation International Philippines, and ForestGEO as an 8-ha plot and later expanded to 16-ha in 1998. All trees within the Palanan PFDP have been censused five times, in 1994, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2016, and 2023. Since 2010, the Palanan PFDP has been managed by the Institute of Biology and UPIB-BRL, which has also conducted and published other studies within the site on terrestrial vertebrate assemblages, pollination and seed dispersal by bats, and genetic studies on various taxa.
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Relevant Publications
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Roño JGA, Luczon AU, Duya MRM, Ong PS, and Fontanilla IKC. 2021. Population genetic structure of Eonycteris robusta from Luzon Island. Philippine Journal of Science, 150(S1): 587-596.
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Duya MRM, Heaney LR, Fernando ES, and Ong PS. 2020. Fruit bat assemblage in different lowland forest types in the Northern Sierra Madre Mountains, Philippines. Acta Chiropterologica, 22(1): 95-112.
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Duya MRM, Fidelino JS, and Ong PS. 2017. Spatial heterogeneity of fruit bats in a primary tropical lowland evergreen rainforest in northeastern Luzon, Philippines. Acta Chiropterologica, 19(2): 305-318.
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Co LL, LaFrankie JV, Lagunzad DA, Pasion KAC, Consunji HT, Bartolome NA, Yap SL, Molina JE, Tongco MDC, Ferreras UF, and Davies SJ. 2006. Forest trees of Palanan, Philippines: A study in population ecology. Philippines: Center for Integrative and Development Studies, University of the Philippines Diliman.
Updating the Key Biodiversity Areas of the Philippines
Coming soon.
Dinagat Mammals Program
Coming soon.
Philippine Tarsiers in the Mount Matutum Protected Landscape
Coming soon.
Past Projects
Comparison of bat diversity in selected cave ecosystems within the Biak-Na-Bato National Park using ultrasonic detectors
Natural Sciences Research Institute
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Eavesdropping on bats: Measuring diversity and abundance of bats from Santol Cave, Biak-Na-Bato National Park during cave emergence using ultrasound detector
Natural Sciences Research Institute
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Comprehensive Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring Program of the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed
First Gen Corporation
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Defining Boundaries: Home Range, Habitat Use, and Genetic Diversity of the Philippine Tarsiers in the Mount Matutum Protected Landscape Tarsier Sanctuary
Protect Wildlife, USAID Philippines
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Unlocking the Mysteries of the Rafflesia: Long-term Monitoring of the Pantabangan Rafflesia
First Gen Corporation
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Biodiversity Assessment of the Last Remaining Forests of San Jose, Tarlac
Provincial Government of Tarlac
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Home Range and Foraging Area of Two Endemic Species of Fruit Bats in the Lowland Forest of Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Palanan, Isabela, Luzon Island, Philippines
Department of Science and Technology
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Tarsier Action Plan
Holcim Philippines
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Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Implementation: Sarangani Province
Holcim Philippines
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Reintroduction of the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) in Leyte: Ensuring the Survival of the King of Birds
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
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Biodiversity Action Plan Implementation and Monitoring Program in the 6 Holcim Philippines Sites
Holcim Philippines
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From Genes to Ecosystems: Understanding Biodiversity at Various Scales
Commission on Higher Education, UP Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development