Philippine Eagle Habitat Designated as Critical Conservation Site

A recent survey by the Davao‑based Philippine Eagle Center documented a mother Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) and its chick within a proposed critical habitat, underscoring the species’ need for large home ranges of 4,000‑11,000 hectares in dipterocarp and mid‑montane forests of Mindanao.

In the same country, the Mount Palay‑Palay‑Mataas‑na‑Gulod Protected Landscape near Manila has been identified as a vital refuge for plant diversity. Researchers recorded 294 plant species in 2016, including 42 endemic and 31 threatened species, and noted the dominance of the critically endangered guijo tree (Shorea guiso). Satellite analysis shows a 13.8% loss of forest cover from 2015‑2021 due to urban encroachment, highlighting the urgency of protecting these remaining lowland forests.