Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Abstract

Astudy was conducted to generate knowledge on the flora resources of the Isabela State University Wildlife Sanctuary. The study revealed a total of 176 plant taxa from the floristic survey area, 78 or 44.32% are natives or indigenous while 98 or 55.68 % are introduced species. Of the 99 introduced species, 22 are native to the Philippines and 76 are exotic. Twelve (14) species were identified as endemic, that is, they are only found in the Philippine archipelago. An assessment of the status of the different plant species was carried out to establish a foundation for their protection, conservation and monitoring. Assessment of the status of each species revealed ten (10) threatened species both locally and nationally. Among these three (3) are critically endangered or facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. These species belong to the family Dipterocarpaceae as follows: Shorea astylosa (yakal); Shorea contorta (white lauan) and Hopea cagayanensis (narek). All three species are endemic to the Philippine archipelago. Hopea cagayanensis is endemic only to Cagayan province. On the other hand, two (2) are endangered species or facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild: Diospyros philippinensis (kamagong) and Podocarpus costalis (igem-dagat) while five (5) are vulnerable or facing a high risk of extinction in the wild as follows: Afzelia rhomboidea (tindalo), Pterocarpus indicus (narra), Vitex parviflora (molave), Intsia bijuga (ipil), and Ficus ulmifolia (is-is)

Biography

Ma Visitacion D Guingab is a Master of Science in Forestry graduate from the University of the Philippines Los Banos Laguna. She is involved in Plant Taxonomy studies of Philippine plants specifically of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park for 20 years and has published 15 papers related to biodiversity, climate change and silviculture. Presently, she is a faculty member of the Isabela State University, College of Forestry and Environmental Management in Luzon Island of the Philippines