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Researched By: John Paul Elula

URL: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/jQpQBeF3mqyescoj/

TITLE: FLY FREE RAJAH CABUNGSUAN!

AUTHOR: Philippine Eagle Foundation

DATE PUBLISHED: November 17, 2021

KEY INFO: The releasing of a rescued Philippine Eagle

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2M views · 79K reactions | Philippine Eagle Rajah Cabungsuan Flies Home | FLY FREE RAJAH CABUNGSUAN! 🌳🦅🌳 We’ve given another Philippine Eagle a chance to thrive in the forest! 💚 Thank you to our partner the Manobo Simuwawnon,... | By Philippine Eagle FoundationFacebook

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FLY FREE RAJAH CABUNGSUAN! 🌳🦅🌳 We’ve given another Philippine Eagle a chance to thrive in the forest! 💚 Thank you to our partner the Manobo Simuwawnon,…

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Researched By: John Paul Elula

URL: https://mindanews.com/top-stories/2022/09/logging-agricultural-activities-threaten-habitat-of-philippine-eagle-in-davao/#gsc.tab=0

TITLE: Logging, Agricultural Activities Threaten Habitat of Philippine Eagle in Davao

AUTHOR: Antonio L. Colina IV

DATE PUBLISHED: September 16, 2022

KEY INFO: The article discusses the threats to the critically endangered Philippine Eagle in Davao due to deforestation and human activities

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Logging, agricultural activities threaten habitat of Philippine Eagle in Davao

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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 16 September) - Logging activities and expansion of agricultural lands have threatened Mts. Makabol-Alikoson Conservation Area (MMACA)

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Researched By: Cloudethan Lapina

URL: https://news.mongabay.com/2021/11/illegal-mining-threatens-indigenous-land-at-foot-of-philippines-tallest-peak/

TITLE: Illegal mining threatens indigenous land at foot of Philippine's tallest peak

Author: Bong S. Sarmiento

Date published: Nov 21 2021

Key Info: Mount Apo, a protected area on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, is threatened by small-scale illegal mining.

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Illegal mining threatens Indigenous land at foot of Philippines' tallest peak

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MINDANAO, Philippines - Mount Apo, a protected area on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, is threatened by small-scale illegal mining, which remains a lingering problem elsewhere in the resource-rich Southeast Asian nation. Famous for being the tallest peak in the Philippines, at 3,143 meters (10,312 feet), Mt.

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Researched By: Cloudethan Lapina

URL: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200728-the-mythical-creatures-that-protect-the-philippines

TITLE: The Mythical Creatures That Protect The Philippines

AUTHOR: Arnel Murga (BBC)

DATE PUBLISHED: February 25, 2022

KEY INFO: About how some people abuse the wildlife and especially endangered animals

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A belief system born of indigenous communities in the Philippines could help protect the country's endangered species, from leopard cats to cloud rats.

In a jeepney travelling through Iloilo city in the Philippines, the driver hoots the vehicle's horn on an empty street in broad daylight. These brightly decorated buses are known for their speed in the south of Iloilo, but this driver slows the jeepney right down.

"Why did you hoot the horn?" I ask him. "And why are we slowing down?"

"We are passing by the mariit tree," he replies in Kinaray-a, one of the local languages.

Part of indigenous wisdom, the "mariit" belief system (pronounced mar- ee-it) is deeply rooted in the relationship of the Filipinos with the environment. It can be traced back to the pre-colonial Filipino practice of animism, or the belief that everything possesses a soul. Mariit stretches back more than 500 years, affecting everything from where buildings are constructed, to how a driver negotiates a stretch of road. Increasingly, it is also being integrated into nature conservation.

But what is mariit, and how can indigenous knowledge beliefs help to tackle such problems? The essence of mariit comes down to the belief that every part of nature is inhabited or owned by unseen dwellers. Thus, it should be respected and taken care of. Otherwise, it could have unpleasant results.

"This what our ancestors told us: 'It is not just us - humans - who exist in this world. There are also those that are not visible to our eyes. They are the taglugar,'" says Elias Victor, the leader of the Ati community, who are considered first inhabitants of the Philippines. Victor walks to the corner of the house, and places a plate of food intended for the taglugar. "They take care of the source of our food and water. When we eat, we invite them, too."

Taglugar (pronounced tag-loo-gar) is a word in the Hiligaynon language that translates to "of place". It refers to the resident, dweller or owner of a place. In the context of mariit, the taglugar are nature's spirit dwellers. There are many forms that the taglugar are said to take. In bodies of water, there are siyokoy, sea creatures that appear to be human but with fish-like physical appearance, and kataw, half-fish and half-human. On land, there are kapre, hairy and cigar-smoking giant creatures usually seen smoking on tall trees, and there are duwende, believed to inhabit the soil, that are said to be like small magical humans.

In the mariit knowledge system, disasters such as famine, drought, flooding, typhoons and earthquakes are sent by the taglugar, Victor says. "These are their wrath," he tells me. He explains these calamities are largely because people no longer respect nature. "They abuse natural resources. They get more than what they need," he says.

It's a familiar concept to me. My late grandmother would repeatedly remind me about showing respect when going to nature. She would tell me to "say tabi-tabi". The tabi-tabi (literally "excuse me") is an old chant in the Hiligaynon language, which is said when one goes to a place strange place, especially in nature. The full version of the chant roughly translates to: "Excuse me. To those who I would bump into, I apologise because I cannot see you."

This courteous Hiligaynon chant is just one element of mariit. Joyce Colon, professor of history at West Visayas State University who has been studying the history and roles of babaylan, shamans who were powerful figures in pre-colonial times and still have a presence in the Philippines today. "The babaylans served as community leaders and healers. They draw their mystical power from nature and their taglugar friends," says Colon, citing historical accounts.

Despite many threats to its existence, such as Westernisation, religion, and the lack of regard for indigenous cultures, mariit continues to live on in the local community of Western Visayas.

Alice Magos, professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of the Philippines Visayas Miag-ao, has studied the concept of mariit on Panay island since the 1970s. Mariit places are considered "danger zones" by the locals, she says, because these are inhabited by nature's spirits. This has been attributed to the communal experience of danger or frequent accidents in the place.

As a form of respect and courtesy, the local community members perform fishing and farming rituals to ask permission from or show gratitude to the taglugar. Though mariit has protected nature from exploitation, Magos laments that "the disrespect resulting in the destruction of the natural environment is an effect of Western traditions imposed on the indigenous communities".

The first wildlife and conservation park in Western Visayas is in Lambunao, Iloilo, and it has mariit at its heart. "There were so many names that we thought of when we're about to start the park," says Lucia Lastimoza, who was the founding programme manager of the park. She and her colleagues initially thought of naming it Threatened Species Center. "But it was generic," she says. Lastimoza wanted to incorporate culture, something that would resonate with the local people. The conversation gave rise to the Mariit Wildlife and Conservation Park.

The park currently serves as a refuge for at least 62 threatened and critically endangered animals that are endemic to the region, such as the Visayan warty pig, the Visayan leopard cat and the Panay cloud rat. The animals here have been rescued from threats such as habitat loss and wildlife trafficking. Lastimoza says that mariit has been able to support conservation efforts at the park. "It contributes to sustainable development because it ensures the availability of resources for future generations," she says.

In the sea, as well as on land, mariit is aiding conservation efforts. Off the island of Guimaras, Taklong Island Marine Natural Reserve, a national marine sanctuary and protected area, serves as breeding grounds for various fish species caught outside its boundary. It is one of the major marine protected areas that supply the seafood demand in the country. It covers more than 1,000 hectares (3.9 square miles) including mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs of rich biodiversity. A comprehensive ridge-to-reef scientific approach to conservation has been promising, but the belief in mariit has also enhanced the protection efforts.

"Cases of illegal fishing activities and cutting of mangroves are very rare," says Rhett Arhur Diana, a senior conservationist at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. "That is because the community members here treat the island as mariit," he says. "They respect the taglugar. This island never runs out of fish."

Banong Villaruz, a member of the local sea guard group tasked to look after the island, says that he often sees the taglugar on the island. He believes that the villagers' fish catch depends on their relationship with the nature spirit dwellers. "If the taglugar are happy with the people, they provide a good catch," says Villaruz. "If they have been angered because of abuse of the environment, then the fisherfolk will be punished - they will have less or no fish to catch, endangered at sea, or get sick."

The local sea guards received training from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in how to protect threatened endemic species, including stingrays, sharks and molluscs. Part of that has involved designating several sea caves and islets in the marine reserve as off-limits, which has been made possible because of the belief that they are mariit. "These species belong not to us. They are owned by the taglugar," says Villaruz. "We are not willing to take the risk. We wouldn't know what harm would return upon us."

Advocates of mariit suggest that planting trees believed to be inhabited by spirits in protected areas can ward off people from doing activities that disturb the environment. It might seem like an intuitive approach, but it doesn't always work out.

Caroline Ward, a postdoctoral researcher of conservation science at the University of York, studied similar folk beliefs in other parts of the world, and their outcome is not always predictable. "We still need to be cautious about embracing these sorts of beliefs specifically for conservation outcomes," Ward says. From a practical point of view, she says, these beliefs are not necessarily established with a conservation outcome in mind. There may be unexpected outcomes or parts of the belief system that don't align with conservation goals.

Trees are one example. Since mariit is attributed mainly to select giant and old trees, the trees are sometimes cut down while they are young. For example, balete trees are often uprooted from their natural habitat while young to be grown as a bonsai plant, while young mangroves are cut to serve as firewood.

"It's better to cut these trees while they are young," Otik Facinabao*, a local community member in Baybay Roxas told me. "You can't do it when they are already big. It's hard, and it might be late too because the spirits may already inhabit them."

To someone who has grown up with the stories that surround mariit places, acknowledging the spirits that occupy woods, oceans and the earth is just another part of life. But you don't have to believe in the taglugar to appreciate the core beliefs innate to the Philippines' indigenous communities: that nature is something to be respected, and we fail to do so at our own risk.

* Names have been changed to protect the identities of these contributors.

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A belief system born of indigenous communities in the Philippines could help protect the country's endangered species, from leopard cats to cloud rats.

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Researched By: Cloudethan Lapina

URL: https://youtu.be/iQtg_8HB9Gk?si=u6OJy_hr3buCDj5n

Title: One Mindanao: Endangered Species

Author: One Mindanao

DATE PUBLISHED: December 10, 2020

KEY INFO: Endangered species found in Mindanao and conservation

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Researched By: Bruce Benedict Belches

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6giJejuNhNY

TITLE: Sierra Madre: Fighting to save what's left of a vital rainforest in the Philippines – BBC News

AUTHOR: BBC News

DATE PUBLISHED: January 6, 2023

KEY INFO: How much of the Sierra Madre rainforest is left and how the Philippines is trying to save it.

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Sierra Madre: Fighting to save what's left of a vital rainforest in the Philippines – BBC News

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Researched By: Bruce Benedict Belches

URL: https://www.chrisfoito.com/philippine-eagle-conservation/

TITLE: Save the Philippine Eagle - Protect Our Forests

AUTHOR: Philippine Eagle Foundation (Chrisfoito)

DATE PUBLISHED: July 2023

KEY INFO: These poster advocates for the protection of the Philippine Eagle's habitat.

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Philippine Eagle Conservation Posters – Chris Foito

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These are conservation posters I designed for the non-profit, The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), DENR, and Cornell Lab Of Ornithology, to spread awareness around this beautiful, but critically endangered species.

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Researched By: Bruce Benedict Belches

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHHEhZIq9TM

TITLE: Conserving Philippine Biodiversity

AUTHOR: DENROfficial

DATE PUBLISHED: August 15, 2016

KEY INFO: Conservation of Philippine biodiversity and illegal wildlife trade and etc..

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Researched By: Sophia Alyza Nunag

URL: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jayson-Ibanez/publication/280721421_The_Eastern_Mindanao_Biodiversity_Corridor_Conservation_Framework/links/55c2a70208aeca747d5dd2c1/The-Eastern-Mindanao-Biodiversity-Corridor-Conservation-Framework.pdf

Title: The Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor Conservation

Author: Jayson Ibanez

DATE PUBLISHED:

Key Info: Mindanao Biodiversity Framework

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Researched By: Sophia Alyza Nunag

URL: https://whitleyaward.org/winners/conserving-the-philippine-eagle-on-mindanao-island/

TITLE: Conserving the Philippine Eagle on Mindanao Island

AUTHOR: Jayson Ibanez(Whitleyaward)

DATE PUBLISHED:

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Winner of the Whitley Award donated by The Shears Foundation in memory of Trevor Shears

Last stronghold

The Philippine Eagle is one of the largest eagles in the world. Endemic to the Philippines, the species is Critically Endangered with over half the remaining nesting pairs found in unprotected forest on Mindanao Island. Despite being heralded as the country's national bird, the Philippine Eagle is threatened by destruction of nesting sites as a result of deforestation, accidental capture in traps set for wild pigs and illegal hunting by farmers in retaliation to predation of domestic animals and livestock.

Indigenous land

Mindanao Island is home to 17 indigenous groups of people, with those living in remote rural areas remaining socially, economically and politically marginalised. Poverty often forces local people to sell off land to survive, which in turn threatens eagle habitat. Philippine Eagles use their nesting sites repeatedly, making the protection of nesting territories key to population recovery.

Conservation symbol

As the Research and Conservation Director at the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Jayson has implemented a holistic approach to conserve the species. His work has led to the adoption of 'Local Conservation Areas' as a strategy to manage 500 km² of eagle habitat, with the help of 350 indigenous people employed as forest guards to protect eagle nesting sites and prevent hunting. To date, more than 450 households have benefited from increased income through sustainable livelihoods, improved access to clean water, health services and education. In doing so, Jayson is lifting families out of poverty whilst safeguarding eagles and the forest.

With his Award, Jayson will:

Scale up his project to enable community conservation across seven nesting sites, reaching over 20% of known Philippine Eagle nesting territories.

Collect data on the ecology of and threats to Philippine Eagles to inform policy and underpin management, both locally and across the archipelago.

Conduct educational outreach and work with policymakers to increase commitment and capacity for the effective management of eagle nesting territories as Local Conservation Areas.

Why it matters:

Fewer than 400 nesting pairs of Philippine Eagles remain in the wild.

Protection of the Philippine Eagle will also conserve other endemic wildlife, making it an umbrella species for the Philippines.

40,000 ha of forest are cleared each year on Mindanao Island due to commercial timber extraction, unsustainable farming practices and mining.

Project Update: 2017 Continuation Funding
"Conservation decisions should be made at the local level, where benefits can be maximised."
The Philippine Eagle is Critically Endangered and only 400 breeding pairs remain on four islands. This apex forest predator is the national bird of the Philippines yet shooting, hunting and deforestation continue to threaten it. To save the eagle and its forest home, Jayson will expand his earlier successful work combining indigenous knowledge and science to manage eagle habitats in local territories and community conservation sites. Focusing on five Key Biodiversity Areas, the project will set up local governance structures to manage the sites and build the capacity of forest wardens. It will also collect vital data on the species to lay the foundations for directly measuring impact on eagle populations going forward. By establishing the country's first national education scheme on the Philippine Eagle the project will also raise local awareness of the importance of local biodiversity and the irreplaceable ecosystem services that these forests provide.

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Conserving the Philippine Eagle on Mindanao Island | Whitley Award

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Winner of the Whitley Award donated by The Shears Foundation in memory of Trevor Shears The Philippine Eagle is one of the largest eagles in the world. Endemic to the Philippines, the species is Critically Endangered with over half the remaining nesting pairs found in unprotected forest on Mindanao Island.

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Researched By: Sophia Alyza Nunag

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLSH-f3yw3E

TITLE: Looking for the Philippine Eagle

AUTHOR: Paolo Rigotti

DATE PUBLISHED: January 27, 2022

KEY INFO: Philippine Eagle Center Davao City information and tour

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Looking For The Philippine Eagle | Endangered Species

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Researched By: Sophia Alyza Nunag

URL: Forest Cover Changes in the Philippines: Implications for Biodiversity

TITLE: Forest Cover Changes in the Philippines: Implications for Biodiversity

AUTHOR: Jhun B. Barit, Kwanghun Choi, Dongwook W Ko (Iforest)

DATE PUBLISHED: 2023

KEY INFO: This article discusses the trends in forest cover changes in the Philippines.

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Modeling the risk of illegal forest activity and its distribution in the southeastern region of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Philippines

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iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, vol. 15, pp. 63-70 (2022)

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Researched By: Zeki Gabriel Taglucop

URL: https://bmb.gov.ph/protection-and-conservation-of-wildlife/

TITLE: Protection and Conservation of Wildlife

AUTHOR: DENR

DATE PUBLISHED: (NOT SPECIFIED)

KEY INFO: Programs and law on the conservation of wildlife

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Researched By: Zeki Gabriel Taglucop

URL: https://haribon.org.ph/

TITLE: Restoring the Forests of Mindanao for Biodiversity Conservation

AUTHOR: Haribon Foundation

DATE PUBLISHED: July 2023

KEY INFO: This article from the Haribon Foundation talks about working to restore forests in Mindanao and highlights how local communities are teaming up for these conservation efforts.

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The Haribon Foundation - The Haribon Foundation is the Philippines' pioneer environmental organization

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The Haribon Foundation is the Philippines' pioneer environmental organization

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Researched By: Zeki Gabriel Taglucop

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ419pCNydg

TITLE: Born to be Wild: Documenting Philippine eagle and Philippine tarsier

AUTHOR: GMA Public Affairs

DATE PUBLISHED: September 29, 2019

KEY INFO: Documenting the most sought after animals in the Philippines: The Philippine eagle and the tarsier

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Born to be Wild: Documenting Philippine eagle and Philippine tarsier in 4K | Full episode

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Researched By: Zeki Gabriel Taglucop

URL: https://www.flipscience.ph/podcast/ask-theory-podcast-035-biodiversity-kier-mitchel-pitogo/

TITLE: Bakit Mahalagang Hanapin Ang Mga “Lost Species” Ng Pilipinas?

AUTHOR: Kier Mitchel Pitogo

DATE: August 14, 2021

KEY INFO: Theorizing on where they might be and why its important to find the lost species

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FlipScience - Top Philippine science news and features for the inquisitive Filipino.

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Ask Theory Podcast Ep. 35: Bakit Mahalagang Hanapin Ang Mga “Lost Species” Ng Pilipinas? (with Kier Mitchel Pitogo) - FlipScience - Top Philippine science news and features for the inquisitive Filipino.

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In EP35 of the #AskTheory #podcast, wildlife biologist Kier Mitchel Pitogo talks about Philippine biodiversity, finding a “lost species,” and more: