Some threatened woody plant species recorded from forests over limestone of the Philippines

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine threatened woody plants in forests over limestone in Samar Natural Park (SINP), Guiuan Marine Resource Protected Landscapes and Seascapes (GMRPLS), and other areas in the Philippines, in order to design a strategic framework for sustainable conservation of threatened species. Combined fieldwork using standard vegetation techniques and comparative literature review were done. Results revealed a total of 196 woody plant species belonging to 48 families, with 60 (DAO 2017-11) and 182 (IUCN) threatened woody plant species in the forests over limestone. The top 10 important species noted include three Critically Endangered: Diospyros longiciliata Merr., Cynometra cebuensis Seidenschwarz, F., and Shorea astylosa Foxw; three Endangered: Cinnamomum cebuense Kosterm., Tectona philippinensis Benth. & Hook.f. and Vitex parviflora Juss.; and four Vulnerable species: Agathis philippinensis Warb., Aquilaria cumingiana (Decne) Ridley, Dipterocarpus gracilis Blume, and Shorea polysperma (Blanco) Merr. A framework for sustainable conservation has been designed to prevent the loss of these threatened botanical treasures.