Floral diversity assessment of Abasig Matogdon-Mananap Natural Biotic Area (AMMNBA) in Camarines Norte, Philippines

Luisito Terbio; Arthur Glenn Umali; Pastor Malabrigo

Luisito B. Terbio Department of Forestry and Agroforestry, College of Agriculture Systems and Technology, Pampanga State Agricultural University, Magalang, Pampanga, Philippines
Arthur Glenn A. Umali Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines, Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines
Pastor L. Malabrigo, Jr. Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines, Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines; Museum of Natural History, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines; Land Grant Management Office, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines

Keywords: important plant area, modified belt transect method, protected area, threatened species

Abstract

Abasig Matogdon-Mananap Natural Biotic Area (AMMNBA) is geographically situated in Camarines Norte, Philippines. It has a total land area of 5,420.12 ha, spanning over three municipalities in Camarines Norte; San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, and Labo. AMMNBA is one of the four protected areas categorized as Natural Biotic Areas in the Philippines. This study generally aims to provide an updated floral profile of AMMNBA, which the Protected Area Management Board and other field implementers of the protected area can be used to formulate or update management and conservation plans. This study employed the Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring System, a standardized method of assessing terrestrial protected areas in accordance with the Biodiversity Management Bureau’s Technical Bulletin No. 2016-05. Two 2-km transect lines were explicitly established at the portion of San Vicente. Results show that the sampled area in AMMNBA was classified as tropical lowland evergreen rain forest, having stand maturity of both early and advanced second-growth forest due to anthropogenic disturbances such as charcoal making. Results revealed that the park is home to 202 species of plants. Species such as Ficus minahassae, Astronia sp., Hopea philippinensis, and Kibatalia gitingensis dominate the sampled area of AMMNBA. Additionally, the analysis showed that AMMNBA has a very high biodiversity value of 4.125. It is home to 46 new province record species, 58 endemic species, and 22 threatened species. The study demonstrated that the Abasig Matogdon-Mananap Natural Biotic Area harbors a significant number of threatened, endemic, and indigenous plant species that could contribute to the ecosystem’s overall health.