The Philippine Cockatoo - Palawan Knowledge Platform for

INNOVATIVE
METHODS FOR THE
CONSERVATION OF
THE
PHILIPPINE
COCKATOO IN
PALAWAN
Peter and Indira Widmann
HOW THREATENED IS THE KATALA?
•
This justified a listing as “Critically Endangered”
(IUCN 2013).
• Facing an extremely high risk
of extinction in the immediate
future!
• Less than 1,000 individuals left in
the wild! Ca. 750 in Palawan!
• The future of the species will be
decided in this province!
FOOTER TEXT
11/8/2013
2
LOWLAND HABITATS ARE CRUCIAL FOR THE
PHILIPPINE COCKATOO!
No. of nest trees
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
[n=56]
• At least during the breeding
season Philippine
Cockatoos are restricted to
coastal areas.
• The majority of the
terrestrial protected areas
in the Philippines are
situated in the uplands and
therefore are unsuitable for
their conservation.
5
0
Altitude [m]
“TRADITIONAL” APPROACH: PROTECTED AREA
DECLARATION AND MANAGEMENT UNDER NIPAS AND
AS ECAN CORE ZONE
Rasa Island Wildlife Sanctuary in cooperation with
Narra Municipality and other stakeholders organized
in PAMB
“INNOVATIVE” APPROACH: TURNING POACHERS
INTO WILDLIFE WARDENS
0
Jul. '98
Nov. '98
Mar. '99
Jul. '99
Nov. '99
Mar. '00
Jul. '00
Nov. '00
Mar. '01
Jul. '01
Nov. '01
Mar '02
Jul.'02
Nov.'02
Mar.'03
Jul.'03
Nov.'03
Mar.'04
Jul.'04
Nov.'04
Mar.'05
Jul. '05
Nov. '05
Mar.'06
Jul.'06
Nov. '06
Mar. '07
Jul. '07
Nov. '07
Mar. '08
Jul. '08
Nov. '08
Mar. '09
Jul. '09
Nov. '09
Mar. 10
Jul. 10
Nov. 10
Mar. 11
Jul. 11
Nov. 11
No. of individuals
MONTHLY COCKATOO COUNTS IN ROOST SITE
ON RASA ISLAND
300
250
200
150
100
50
PHILIPPINE COCKATOO HABITAT: FOREST STRUCTURE
No. of nest trees
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
[n=56]
• Philippine Cockatoos are
adapted to naturally open
forest types, e.g. beach
forests, seasonal lowland
forests.
• They are able to breed and
forage in degraded forests
and even cultural
landscapes with only little
and highly fragmented
forest cover left.
0
Tree cover [%]
Pandanan Island in
cooperation with
Jewelmer and Balabac
Municipality
INNOVATIVE APPROACH: PROTECTED AREAS
DECLARED UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CODE
• Culasian Managed Resource Protected Area, Rizal
• Omoi and Manambaling Cockatoo Reserves, Dumaran
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES: CONSERVATION OUTSIDE
OF PROTECTED AREAS
• Integration of biodiversity outcomes in CLWUP
• Wildlife Corridors
• Local ordinances to protect and monitor the Philippine
Cockatoo
• Conservation education
OTHER SPECIES THAT ARE TYPICAL FOR OPEN FOREST
CONDITIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Integration of biodiversity outcomes in land use planning.
• Finer tuned habitat protection in lowland areas (multiple use
zone): e.g. remnant forest patches, grassland-forest mosaics,
wetlands with presence of threatened and endemic species.
• More protected areas declared by private land owners and
LGUs.
• Habitat restoration, instead of reclamation, in old mining sites.
• Diverse and profitable agricultural, pastoral and silvicultural
landscapes, e.g. multi-species plantations, “Rainforestation”,
etc. (best practices among Biosphere Reserves).
• Informed population and enlightened decision makers.
SHARE A PLACE TO LIVE!
THANK YOU!
• Loro Parque Fundacion
• Northern England Zoological Society
/ Chester Zoo
• ZooParc de Beauval
• ZGAP
• Department for Environment and
Natural Resources Philippines
• Palawan Council for Sustainable
Development
• IUCN/SOS
• Additional photos: Roland Seitre