𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐑-𝟏𝟐 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟑𝟎 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐭. 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐲

𝐊𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘, 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐨- The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) South Cotabato of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 12 through Biologists, Aljohn Jay Saavedra and Kier Mitchel Pitogo, (former staff of PENRO-South Cotabato), led the comprehensive study and publication of the bird fauna in Mt Melibengoy, Municipality of Tboli, South Cotabato.

The research study was published in the Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology of the Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines (ASBP), entitled “Avian fauna of Mount Melibengoy, Southern Mindanao, Philippines: Conservation implications on a partially protected key biodiversity area under threat”. The study revealed that 130 bird species were accounted in Mt. Melibengoy as a result of field surveys and collation of related data, where these numbers may possibly increase as more research studies and biodiversity surveys will be conducted.
In addition, the research data also shows other remarkable findings such as the rarely observed Mindanao lorikeet, the endangered South Philippine hawk-eagle, the range-restricted Tboli sunbird, and other notable species in the area.

This brings the total bird species to count in the Mt Busa Key Biodiversity Area (KBA 196), which encompasses Mt Melibengoy, to approximately 165, including the iconic Philippine Eagle (𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘢 𝘔𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴) (𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘴, 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭., 2020).

The study emphasizes Mt. Melibengoy’s significance as a potential last refuge for Mindanao lorikeet populations in the country, a species facing extirpation from most mountains in Mindanao.

Furthermore, the paper advocates for the declaration of the remaining unprotected forests in Melibengoy and Malibato mountains as a Wildlife Critical Habitat and, eventually, a Protected Area. The said publication aligns with the ongoing efforts of DENR-PENRO South Cotabato to incorporate the unprotected portions of KBA 196 into the Philippine National Integrated Protected Areas System, under Republic Act No. 11038. This collaborative effort underscores the commitment to biodiversity conservation and aligns with broader national conservation initiatives.### (photos from Forest Jarvis/reports by AJ Saavedra Biologist PAMO-AVPL -PENRO South Cotabato | 𝐑𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐆𝐊.