Plant Diversity of Mount Makiling Forest Reserve: Implications to Management and Conservation

Abstract

Mt. Makiling is a low mountain straddling between Laguna and Batangas provinces harboring diverse and unique forest ecosystems from lowland evergreen rainforests to mossy montane forests at its peak of 1130 masl. It was proclaimed a Forest Reserve with an area of 4224.37 hectares from 100 to 200 masl to the summit. Mt. Makiling is a crucial forest reserve as it has diverse and valuable products which are economically important. It is also one of the 170 priority areas for biodiversity conservation instituted by the government. Mt. Makiling has an environment that is conducive for the growth of various vegetation types based on the altitude, namely upper montane rain forest at higher than 1000 masl, lower montane forest at beyond 750 masl, lowland evergreen forest at around 100–500 masl, and grassland vegetation at below 100 masl. Researchers from the Institute of Biological Sciences conducted a vegetation survey at the various elevational gradients every 100 m along the northeastern slopes of Mt. Makiling. Twenty-four species of mosses from 19 families were collected in various altitudinal gradients of Mt. Makiling. Forest floor census reveals that there are 44 fern species identified from 22 genera and 17 families. Generally, there was a higher number of understory species in the low and middle elevation levels up to 600 masl. At higher elevation levels, the number of understory species decreased greatly. Loganiaceae is the most represented family of understory species in the low elevation areas (<100–400 masl) followed by Meliaceae, Araceae, Dipterocarpaceae, and Urticaceae. The vascular epiphytes recorded in the survey belong to six fern families (Aspleniaceae, Davalliaceae, Grammitidaceae, Lomariopsidaceae, Polypodiaceae, and Vittariaceae). Pollination and floral visitation of bees are also important ecosystem activities observed in Mt. Makiling. In a number of both new and established Philippine Giant Honey Bees, Apis breviligula Maa, colonies were located at elevations of 30–60 m above sea level within Mt. Makiling. Mt. Makiling is currently vulnerable to the illegal conversion of forest areas into agricultural areas and informal housing. The various human activities in Mt. Makiling produced changes in the richness and distribution of the species in the forest. The baseline data contained in the Makiling Biodiversity Information System (MaKIBIS) is important to support the conservation plans and safeguard the future of the species in Mt. Makiling.