Riparian Flora of Kaliwa River Watershed in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Philippines

Ecosystems and Development Journal; Pastor L. Malabrigo Jr.; Arthur Glenn A. Umali; Jovito P. Elec

Ecosystems and Development Journal
Pastor L. Malabrigo Jr. Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Arthur Glenn A. Umali Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Jovito P. Elec Burgos Wind Power Corporation, Energy Development Corporation

Keywords: Island endemics, Kaliwa River Watershed, Philippine Endemics, Plant diversity, Riparian Flora, Threatened Species

Abstract

This paper provides an inventory of the riparian flora of the
Kaliwa River Watershed (KRW) in Sierra Madre Mountain
Range, Philippines including stand structure, plant diversity,
endemism and ecological status. A total of 386 morpho-species
belonging to 278 genera and 95 families were recorded from the
study area. There are at least 60 Philippine endemics reported,
six of which are Luzon endemics. Twenty-two species were listed
under either the Philippine Red List or on the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. Results of the plant diversity assessment
revealed that biodiversity in riparian forests in KRW is still high
despite the obvious massive disturbance in the area.