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==Frog species, size of a thumb, found in Southern Leyte forest== | |||
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1301334736913 | |||
*Thursday 19th of April 2012 | |||
:by Marcelo M. Pedalino | |||
SOUTHERN LEYTE, April 19 (PIA) -- This province has carved a new impression as a haven for a rich bio-diversity wildlife in the wake of reports broadcast on nationwide television and online news outlets that two new species of frogs were discovered in the forests off the pacific area. | |||
According to reports, the newly-found frogs species were a mottled brown frog with red eyes and a broad yellow stripe running down its back, and a yellow green frog the size not much bigger than a man’s thumb. | |||
The finds were announced by personnel of the British-based Fauna and Flora International in a forum held at the National Museum, it was learned. | |||
Reports said the new species, which have been labeled as endangered and on the brink of extinction and were yet to be named, were found at the Nacolod mountain range in the pacific area of Southern Leyte province. | |||
This area has been part of a conservation-oriented undertaking initiated by the central office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in addition to an initiative of a German government organization GIZ, the Reducing Emission on Degradation and Deforestation Plus (REDD Plus) project. | |||
The brown frog specimens measured 1.7 -- 2.2 inches, while the yellow-green ones were 0.8 -- 1.1 inches, an online report said. | |||
The Philippines has been listed by US-based Conservation International as one among 17 countries that hold most of Earth’s plant and animals, but at the same time a bio-diversity hotspot due to massive kaingin and illegal logging operations on what was once heavily-forested areas. | |||
The DENR, through its wildlife protection department, reported that aside from the frogs, 36 new plants and animal species were discovered in the country over the past ten years. (ldl/mmp-PIA 8, Southern Leyte) | |||
==2 new frog species discovered in Leyte == | |||
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=798078&publicationSubCategoryId=68 | |||
*April 18, 2012 12:00 AM | |||
:by Rhodina Villanueva | |||
MANILA, Philippines - Two new species of frogs and 229 recorded flora species were discovered in Southern Leyte late last year. | |||
Mundita Lim, head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (DENR-PAWB), said the frogs belong to the genus Platymantis. | |||
“These species inhabit the montane and mossy forests of the Nacolod Mountain Range in Southern Leyte province,” she said. “Both species differ markedly from other known species of Philippine Platymantis frogs by their body size, coloration patterns, and advertisement calls. The two species are allied to two different species groups, the Platymantis guentheri group and Platymantis hazelae group.” | |||
Lim said this is the first time that a Platymantis species belonging to the hazelae group has been discovered in Mindanao faunal region, to which the island of Leyte belongs. | |||
“Herpetologists from the Philippines and the United States are now working on the formal taxonomic description of the species,” she said. | |||
Lim said the month-long ground surveys in Southern Leyte – covering the municipalities of Silago, Hinunangan, Sogod, Maasin, Tomas Oppus and Malitbog – also recorded a total of 229 floral species (31 of which are unique to the Philippines) and 212 terrestrial vertebrates species comprising 112 species of birds (41 species are unique to Philippines; 11 of which are threatened to extinction), 36 species of mammals (17 species are unique to the Philippines) and 64 species of amphibians and reptiles (more than half of which are found only in the Philippines). | |||
“It is anticipated that a significant number of species will be recorded from Southern Leyte with continued field sampling, especially if the surveys are conducted during the drier months of the year and if a wide range of habitat and elevation zones, from lowland Dipterocarp to mossy forests, are sampled in detail,” she said. | |||
Lim said the assessment indicated the general preference of Southern Leyte’s fauna to forest and riverine environments. | |||
“The information generated now provides a baseline that can be used to predict impacts of habitat change on species and to design measures to protect forest biodiversity. For local government units in Southern Leyte, the findings provide the scientific basis in designing appropriate management systems and monitoring protocols useful in protecting forest ecosystems, establishing local forest and | |||
biodiversity areas as well as to steer the rehabilitation of forests towards an efficient and more ecologically sound path,” she said. | |||
Lim said the assessment will spur forest protection and rehabilitation efforts under the Philippine National Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)-Plus Strategy as part of the National Climate Change Action Plan, and the National Greening Program. | |||
Lim said the discovery of the new species on the fragmented forests of Mt. Nacolod intensifies the potential of REDD-Plus for effective protection and rehabilitation of natural forests and conservation of biodiversity, while benefiting local communities. | |||
Greater involvement of LGUs in conserving the biodiversity of Nacolod is expected, she added. | |||
The study was aimed at generating species inventories and practical information on key species-habitat associations as sound bases for forest and biodiversity management planning, Lim said. | |||
Joining the PAWB in conducting the biodiversity assessments last November 2011 were the Fauna & Flora International, the National Museum of the Philippines, and DENR Eastern Visayas. | |||
==Reef restoration set in Southern Leyte== | |||
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/tacloban/local-news/2012/04/17/reef-restoration-set-southern-leyte-216718 | |||
*Tuesday, April 17, 2012 | |||
:by (Leyte Samar Daily Express) | |||
PALO, Leyte – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) will push through a one-year pilot technology demonstration on coral reef restoration in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte. | |||
The coastal area situated within the Sogod Bay will get a P5-million budget out of the recently approved P35.35 million funding for nine coral reef rehabilitation projects nationwide. | |||
DOST Regional Director Edgardo Esperancilla said they signed an agreement with SLSU based in Sogod town, which will be their partner in undertaking pilot technology demonstration. | |||
“We prioritize the one hectare in Padre Burgos because it is where depleted coral reefs can be found. There are also nearby resort owners who are willing to sustain the project. The undertaking is to show how the private sector can implement coral reef reforestation,” Esperancilla said. | |||
The project aims to promote science-based coral reef management practices through public-private sector partnership, establish technology pilot demonstration sites for coral nurseries to produce 30,000 coral nubbins, and establish one hectare of reef in Padre Burgos. | |||
The science department is eyeing to complete the project on March 14, 2013. | |||
“To make sure that corals will grow, we need the help of the private sector to maintain this, especially that damaging starfish are infesting the area,” he said. | |||
Population outbreak of damaging crown-of-thorns starfish was spotted in 74 hectares of coral reefs in Southern Leyte with a population density of up to 420 pieces per square meter, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. | |||
Of the 74 hectares infested, 60 hectares are in the municipality of Padre Burgos, nine hectares in Maasin City and five hectares in Macrohon town. | |||
Crown-of-thorns starfish climbs over the corals, releases digestive enzymes to break down its food, and then absorbs the coral polyp, leaving only coral skeleton. | |||
Other than the toxic starfish, the DOST believed that coral reefs in Southern Leyte are damaged by a variety of human activities such as household sewage, industrial wastage and agricultural chemicals from land that are washed off to the sea. | |||
Dangerous fishing methods such as blast and dynamite fishing also contributed to coral reef destruction. | |||
Coral reef reforestation will also be implemented in provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Zambales, Batangas, Masbate, Aklan, Bohol, and Tawi-Tawi. | |||
==Environmental office bares municipalities with highest collection of deadly starfish== | ==Environmental office bares municipalities with highest collection of deadly starfish== | ||
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R08&article=1291334544532 | *Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R08&article=1291334544532 | ||
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“We are proposing the production of IEC materials such as pamphlets and posters for public awareness which is now designed by PENRMO staff,” Abad said while other activities are properly coordinated with the other agencies. (ldl/rgc-PIA 8, Southern Leyte) | “We are proposing the production of IEC materials such as pamphlets and posters for public awareness which is now designed by PENRMO staff,” Abad said while other activities are properly coordinated with the other agencies. (ldl/rgc-PIA 8, Southern Leyte) | ||
==11 Eastern Visayas LGUs yet to comply with policy on disclosure== | ==11 Eastern Visayas LGUs yet to comply with policy on disclosure== | ||